Chemicals
What becomes of seized counterfeits?
IP experts have urged governments and companies to re-use – rather than dump – seized counterfeit goods. Nick Huber explains how two innovative schemes are using impounded fakes to benefit society...  »
EPO applications defy economic slump with record-breaking 2011
Strong figures on European patent filing defy global economic conditions, as EPO creates team to fine tune its policies for working with emerging markets...  »
Philip Morris fumes at Australian government
Promised lawsuit goes live after Parliamentary vote passes plain-packaging legislation for tobacco products sold in Australia...  »
Major WIPO report details surge in innovation industry
Organisation’s first World IP Report takes 40-year, panoramic view of an IP economy that is outpacing global GDP and driving change in poorer countries...  »
Are lawmakers smoking out tobacco brands?
Australia faces some imposing legal hurdles in its attempt to ban tobacco trademarks. However, as Matt Packer writes, this has not stopped other countries from thinking about extinguishing them...  »
New UK-IPO probe to cut through patent thickets
Economic effects of rights clusters to be the focus of special investigation with a report scheduled for the autumn...  »
Imitation: fragrant flattery or unfair competition?
A recent decision of Germany’s Federal court, the Bundesgerichtshof, has added an interesting footnote to issues of trademark law and comparative advertising raised in the L’Oréal v Bellure ‘sm....  »
Be sure to hit the IP Rights target in mergers and acquisitions
McDermot Will & Emery’s Carey C Jordan picks out the top five IP traps in M&A transactions...  »
Peering over examiner’s shoulder encouraged in patent project
A new online scheme allowing members of the public to comment on patent applications aims to raise IP quality in the UK and yield economic benefits, writes Matt Packer...  »
The great IP debate: giving generously or giving up?
Three major UK universities have joined forces in a scheme to give away their intangible assets to industry. Matt Packer reports from a recent debate on the plan...  »