Europe
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 ....  »
Sound R&D policies help France, Switzerland and Germany to weather economic woes
Matt Packer examines the research and development programmes of three European nations, in light of their strong results on international patent filings...  »
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....  »
Banking group sounds alarm over potential abuse of finance gTLDs
Leading European watchdog highlights suffixes that could be snatched by ‘unscrupulous individuals’ aiming to defraud consumers of financial services, writes Nick Huber...  »
Storing up IP hurdles for the future?
Cyberlockers could be poised to emulate the success of social networks as hubs of online communities – but are their copyright provisions effective? Jermaine Haughton finds out...  »
A compulsory weakening of the patent system?
Two high-profile decisions to requisition patents from pharmaceutical companies may conflict with key provisions in international IP agreements, writes Matt Packer...  »
Will fans Perish in Nuclear Blast of web company’s IP suit?
Heavy Metal band left red-faced before supporters over song rights action by mystery plaintiff...  »
Innovative lifetimes honoured in EPO awards
Technological, social and economic contributions of leading inventor-industrialists recognised in keynote shortlist...  »
Massive fine turns off global dealer of fake Viagra
Enforcers from medical industry join up with fraud experts to quash trader of bogus drugs...  »