Judith Bussé is a counsel at Crowell & Moring's Brussels office and a member of the Intellectual Property Group. She assists clients with practical, hands-on advice for protecting and enforcing their intellectual property rights in a variety of sectors, such as the fashion, food, and pharmaceutical sectors. In recent years, Judith has developed a particular focus on cases concerning software and database rights, including the protection of artificial intelligence algorithms and the combined use of trade secrets, patents and copyrights to protect such know-how, particularly in the IT sector.
Judith has been involved in a number of trademark cases, including litigation on the validity and infringement of a three-dimensional trademark for beverages, and concerning a pharmaceutical color trademark in which the abuse of dominance was also argued. In addition, Judith advises and litigates in cases regarding pharmaceutical patents and in relation to damage claims for the infringement of intellectual property rights as well as for undue and unjustified actions against alleged infringers.
Legal Rankings
- Recognized as a leading trademark professional by World Trademark Review
- “Bussé is a quick thinker and is able to spot the legal issues in a complex set of facts. She is efficient, reliable and solution-oriented and thoroughly deserves her place in the WTR 1000” (2020)
- Listed as an IP Star in Managing IP Magazine (2019)
Prior to joining Crowell & Moring, Judith obtained a specialized LL.M. degree in innovation, competition, and trade law at the London School of Economics. At LSE, she focused on the overlap between intellectual property and competition law, notably in the pharmaceutical sector, while also maintaining a strong interest for IT law. Judith furthermore represented the LSE in the Mediation Skills Competition, organized by the UK Worshipful Company of Arbitrators.
In 2013, Judith earned her master's degree, cum laude, at the K.U. Leuven. As part of her curriculum, she focused on European and economic law and won the Mertens de Wilmars pleading competition.
Affiliations
Admitted to practice: in Belgium and before the European Court
Memberships
- The International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI)
- 2016: Reporter, Study Committee on the Requirements for Protection of Designs
- 2017: Member, Study Committee on the Quantification of Monetary Relief
- Benelux Association of Trademark and Design Law (BMM)
Speeches & Presentations
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"Webinar Series: Trade Secrets are Not Intellectual Property – At Least Not in the European Union," Crowell & Moring Webinar
(February 11, 2020).
Presenters: Jan-Diederik Lindemans and Judith Bussé.
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"Trade Secrets and Whistle Blowers," IJE/IBJ Deep Dive, Brussels, Belgium
(December 5, 2019).
Speakers: Jan-Diederik Lindemans, Emmanuel Plasschaert, Gunther Meyer, Judith Bussé, and Evelien Jamaels.
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"Webinar Series: Safeguarding Your Secrets in the Digital Age - Part 3," Crowell & Moring Webinar
(November 12, 2019).
Presenters: Raija Horstman and Judith Bussé.
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"Digital Health Roundtable," Brussels, Belgium
(April 24, 2019).
Moderator: Maarten Stassen. Speakers: Jodi Daniel, Frederik Van Remoortel, Jurgen Figys, Evelina Roegiers, Evi Mattioli, and Judith Bussé.
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"The Importance of a Good IP Strategy – What Needs to be Done and Why," IBJ-IJE Seminar, Brussels, Belgium
(October 5, 2017).
Presenters: Kristof Roox, Jan-Diederik Lindemans, Jurgen Figys and Judith Bussé.
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"Antitrust Enforcement in the Digital Economy - Current Trends in the EU," Crowell & Moring Seminar
(September 22, 2016).
Presenters: Judith Bussé, Dr. Salomé Cisnal de Ugarte, Thomas De Meese, Thomas Kramler, and Emmelie Wijckmans.
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"Update on Digital Single Market Strategy,"
BDMA, M-Commerce update, December 2016. Author: Judith Bussé.
Publications
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"European Copyright: Memes, GIFs, and Other Images on the Internet," Crowell & Moring's Retail & Consumer Products Law Observer
(December 18, 2019).
Authors: Judith Bussé and Frances Caudron.
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"Eco-friendly or falsely advertised? Sustainable fashion advertising in Europe: do’s and don’ts," Crowell & Moring's Retail & Consumer Products Law Observer
(December 4, 2019).
Authors: Judith Bussé and Laura van Kruijsdijk.
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"Milieubewuste of misleidende mode? Zo voer je reclame voor ecologische labels of duurzame materialen," FashionUnited
(September 23, 2019).
Authors: Laura van Kruijsdijk and Judith Bussé.
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"The Unregistered Community Design to conquer the European fashion industry," Crowell & Moring's Retail & Consumer Products Law Observer
(September 13, 2019).
Authors: Judith Bussé and Frances Caudron.
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"The Expansion of Confidentiality Protections in Trade Secret and IP Cases in the Netherlands and Belgium," Crowell & Moring's Trade Secrets Trends
(August 19, 2019).
Authors: Judith Bussé, John Laird and Julia Milewski.
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"Luxembourg Implements the Trade Secrets Directive," Crowell & Moring's Trade Secrets Trends
(July 23, 2019).
Authors: Judith Bussé and Julia Milewski.
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"Het niet-geregistreerd Gemeenschapsmodel: ongekend maar niet onbemind in de modesector," FashionUnited
(February 28, 2019).
Authors: Frances Caudron and Judith Bussé.
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"Een nieuw wapen in de strijd tegen Fashion Fashion copycats," FashionUnited
(December 18, 2018).
Authors: Judith Bussé and Ellen Desnyder.
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"Auteursrecht in de picture : het delen van memes, tweets, GIFs en andere afbeeldingen op het internet," FashionUnited
(December 6, 2018).
Authors: Judith Bussé and Frances Caudron.
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"De nieuwe Auteursrechtrichtlijn : de strijd voor een vrij internet verloren?" Actua Leges, no. 2018/70
(2018).
Authors: Judith Bussé and Frances Caudron.
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"Auteursrecht in de picture : het delen van memes, tweets, GIFs en andere afbeeldingen op het internet," Actua Leges, no. 2018/39
(2018).
Authors: Judith Bussé and Frances Caudron.
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"The US-EU Trade War: A Blessing In Disguise For EU Fashion And Cosmetics Companies?" FashionUnited
(June 6, 2018).
Authors: Judith Bussé, and Lorenzo Di Masi.
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"Een succesvolle IE-strategie: Do’s and Don'ts," Fashion United
(January 29, 2018).
Author: Judith Bussé.
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"Counterfeit Seizures Proceedings in Belgium – An Update," Cahiers Antwerp Brussels Ghent
(August 29, 2017).
Authors: Christian Dekoninck, Jurgen Figys and Judith Bussé.
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"Belgium – Parallel Imports Update," Law Lore & Practice of the Pharmaceutical Trade Marks
(September 2015).
Authors: Christian Dekoninck and Judith Bussé.
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"Noot onder het arrest van het Hof van Cassatie van 23 januari 2015 in de zaak Spira/De Beers" Revue de la Concurrence Belge
(2015).
Authors: Grégoire Ryelandt and Judith Bussé.
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"De (bittere) nasmaak van vormmerken," RABG, Issue 18, 1285-1293
(2015).
Author: Judith Bussé.
Client Alerts & Newsletters
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"EU’s Top Court Confirms Copyright for Design, but Looking Good Will Not Do the Trick,"
IP Insights
(September 17, 2019).
Contacts: Judith Bussé, Ellen Desnyder
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"Unified Patent Court: The Competent Court — Part II,"
Unified Patent Court Alerts
(March 29, 2016).
Contacts: Jan-Diederik Lindemans, Judith Bussé
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"Unified Patent Court: The Competent Court – Part I,"
Unified Patent Court Alerts
(March 15, 2016).
Contacts: Jan-Diederik Lindemans, Judith Bussé
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"Unified Patent Court: The Language Regime,"
Unified Patent Court Alerts
(January 5, 2016).
Contacts: Jan-Diederik Lindemans, Judith Bussé
Media Mentions
Firm News & Announcements