Asia Pacific
The Patents Bill finally gets a makeover in New Zealand
A reworking of the country’s patent laws promises tougher examination, a focus on cultural awareness and new exclusion requirements, writes Matt Adams of AJ Park...  »
Kiwi power sends .nz domain soaring over half-million mark
Suffix extension with a twang of national pride becomes an instant hit with New Zealand’s online community...  »
Google+ to issue ‘vanity URLs’
Plans announced by leading search platform give brand owners an opportunity to expand their web presences...  »
Tobacco companies hit out at Australian High Court decision on plain packaging
Legal ruling gives de-branding scheme the green light – but as publication of the full decision is postponed, tobacco companies maintain their opposition...  »
Grand visions for grander innovations
Large-scale, state-managed projects make impressive showcases for the inventive spirit – but only in rare cases are they impervious to external factors, writes Matt Packer...  »
Weighing up the billions lost from software piracy
A major report on unlicensed software has highlighted a soaring escalation of the problem. However, writes Matt Packer, support for the IP Rights of official vendors has far from vanished...  »
ICANN’s grand domains reveal: the trends behind the fanfare
Global authority’s outgoing president and CEO Rod Beckstrom has at last announced the list of applicants for new domain suffixes. Matt Packer combs the details for themes that have special interest ....  »
‘Birmingham balti’ stamp to spice up dish distinctiveness
Bid to curry favour with European authenticators looks set to serve up victory for fiery food fanatics...  »
When is a handle not a handle?
With understanding of the divisions between 2D marks and 3D technical features balanced on a knife-edge, Europe’s General Court has provided a clear-cut ruling, writes Matt Packer...  »
European companies face mounting pressure on their own doorstep
While a cursory glance at the latest patent filing statistics for Europe show a steady increase in the region, the devil is in the detail – for the number of European companies filing in Europe is i....  »