IP MANAGEMENT

• How you can avoid getting crunched

  

  Turmoil in the financial markets over the last few months has led to plunging share prices and boardroom unrest. With IP budgets under intense pressure, Stephen Mulrenan examines what practical steps brand owners can take to negotiate the credit crunch

• Locarno classification set to be reformed

  As design protection becomes more common, a number of problems with the Locarno classification have become apparent. David Stone reports on an attempt to update the system

• Time to reconsider the PHOSITA

  Maintaining consistency and ensuring stability in the patent examination process are crucial to the issuance of quality patents. Marian Underweiser of IBM proposes one way to make the process more predictable

• Your guide to geographical indications worldwide

  Managing IP asked correspondents in eight jurisdictions that provide some form of protection for GIs or their domestically named equivalent to address the key questions for brand owners

• Letter from the editor

• The most important man in IP

  

  This month, Francis Gurry takes over the role of WIPO director general, as the world's only international organisation dedicated to intellectual property begins its recovery from a period of criticism and stagnation. In an exclusive interview, he discusses the challenges WIPO faces, the changes he will make and why he is the right man for the most important job in IP

• Politics and IP in China explained

  IP protection in China remains a controversial and politicised issue. Mark Cohen looks back at his four years working as IP attaché at the US Embassy in Beijing

• Home truths about the EPO

  The European Patent Office has talked about raising the bar, and its allowance rate has fallen in recent years. Hugh Dunlop asks: what’s really going on at the Office?

• How trolls can circumvent eBay

  The Supreme Court's eBay decision made it harder for patent trolls to obtain injunctions. Bas de Blank and Fabio Marino explain why the ITC may give them an escape route

• China's patent amendments uncovered

  China's National People's Congress has published the latest draft of amendments to its patent law. Managing IP provides a guide to what may change

• CTM fee deadlock broken

  EU member states last month agreed a deal that would cut the cost of Community trade marks by up to 40%

• IP enforcement bills spark debate

  The US Senate last month approved legislation intended to improve enforcement of IP rights in the US

• Yahoo yodels into India's TM registry

  Yahoo!'s yodel has become the first sound mark to be granted by India's trade mark registry, in a breakthrough for Asia

• Duffy predicts patent changes

  Professor John Duffy made three predictions about the patent system in Managing IP's first e-symposium last month

• Interview: Trade mark priorities for Europe

  

  Simon Reeves, director of trade marks at AstraZeneca, has just taken over as ECTA president. He talks about pharmaceuticals, outsourcing and OHIM fee proposals

• Record year as IP firms expand

  Managing IP's sixth annual review of the largest IP firms shows further growth - but also reveals some new names at the top of the rankings

• Letter from the editor

  A new start for WIPO and EU member states demonstrate the value of compromise. By James Nurton

• Get ready for the clean tech IP boom

  

  The world is beginning to face up to the threat of climate change. But meeting the climate challenge will above all require the development of new technologies. James Nurton asks: can patents save the planet? Plus: clean tech case studies, green branding and the Green IP Award

• EU Bolar exemption is not so simple

  The EU directive to introduce a US-style Bolar provision promised to harmonise the law on clinical trials. But, says Marina Barnden, inconsistent application has led to uncertainty

• Meet China's litigation pioneer

  

  Peter Ollier talks to Vincent Zhong, vice president of Netac Technology, the first Chinese company to sue an American rival in the US for patent infringement

• Letter from the editor

  Everyone likes to win prizes – especially when they are worth $300 million. That is the amount that US presidential candidate John McCain has proposed offering as an award to the inventor of a cheap, powerful car battery that will "leapfrog" existing commercial products

• Taiwan to change compulsory licensing rules

  Taiwan's Intellectual Property Office is to amend the compulsory licensing provisions of its Patent Law after a long-running dispute between a local CD maker and Philips finally ended

• Copyright boost in Europe

  Ninety-five years is enough time to play the same four-minute piece of music more than 12.5 million times

• Lords add to obviousness debate

  The House of Lords made its most important patent ruling in recent times when it clarified the test for obviousness in the UK. How have other courts dealt with this issue?

• Politics, power and passion - this year's MIP 50

  With IP reforms being discussed around the world, this year's selection of the most influential people in IP features many politicians and campaigners. But there are also a few surprises

• Forum shopping prospers despite Enforcement Directive

  A review of seven jurisdictions shows that many disparities remain in enforcement in Europe. Canny IP owners can exploit these differences to their advantage

• What WIPO should do next

  

  Former WIPO deputy director-general Geoffrey Yu spoke to Peter Ollier about how the Organization should heal divisions and move forward under new leadership

• National IP Strategy focuses on enforcement

  China's has approved a long-awaited National IP Strategy that commits the government to consider developing specialized IP courts

• Peer-to-patent increases prior art submissions

  he USPTO's peer-to-patent project has led to an increase in prior art submissions but has failed to bring in fresh patent applications in its first year

• Letter from the editor

  1968 saw a social revolution in Paris. Forty years on, there is the potential for another memorable achievement in the city

• Biotech's biggest blockbusters

  

  It has been just over three decades since the first biotechnology company - Genentech - was formed in 1976. Since then biotechnology has become a multi-billion dollar industry with ground-breaking products, based on original research. Eklavya Gupte examines five patents that have shaped the sector

• A domain name policy in 10 easy steps

  Gretchen Olive provides a list of stages that every brand owner should consider when drawing up a corporate domain name policy

• Taiwan's businesses learn to build IP value

  Horng-Dar Lin explains how Taiwanese companies that used only to manufacture for foreign businesses are developing their own brand identities

• How to reward inventive employees

  

  An Australian court has considered the issue of who owns IP generated by employees. Suzy Groom puts the decision in context

• 21st century trade mark strategies

  Managing IP, in association with Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner, hosted a discussion on trade mark strategies with lawyers, in-house counsel and members of OHIM and the TTAB

• Gurry narrowly wins WIPO vote

• Japan's watchdog raids collecting society

  The Japan Fair Trade Commission has searched the offices of the country's largest music licensing society

• EU reconsiders position on GIs

• Global awards dinner 2008

  Managing IP's third annual Awards Dinner was held at Claridge's in London last month, with more than 250 guests coming from as far away as Brazil, Korea, Australia, South Africa and Turkey

• North America awards dinner 2008

  Managing IP held its first North America awards ceremony last month, with 150 people attending a black tie dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown Washington DC

• IP regimes ranked worldwide

  A new Index, developed by Taylor Wessing, rates IP protection in different countries. Roland Mallinson introduces the Index and examines some of the findings

• How Unilever outsourced 160,000 marks

  

  On January 1 last year Unilever outsourced its trade mark prosecution work. Almost 18 months on, Katrina Burchell, the company's general trade mark counsel, told Emma Barraclough about the experience

• How India is turning knowledge into wealth

  Although pharmaceutical patents dominate debates about innovation in India, government and industry are leading an IP overhaul in many other areas, says Peter Ollier

• A guide to internationalized top level domains

  

  ICANN is planning to introduce new domains containing only non-English characters. This is what it means for IP owners and their domain name portfolios

• Microsoft's IP plans under the spotlight

  

  Interview: As Microsoft's global vice-president of IP and licensing, Horacio Gutierrez plays an integral role in protecting the company's IP rights

• Philip Morris asks ITC to stop grey market goods

  Tobacco company Philip Morris is taking action against grey market cigarettes, filing a complaint at the International Trade Commission last month

• Africa identifies IP priorities

• Hitch a ride on the patent highway

  The EPO is the latest patent office to sign up to a patent prosecution highway. But do these schemes offer more advantages to applicants or examiners? Emma Barraclough reports

• Utynam's Heirs

  A monthly column devoted to IP curiosities and controversies, named in honour of John of Utynam - who received the world's first recorded patent in 1449

• Meet the candidates on the WIPO campaign trail

  

  With elections for a new WIPO director-general slated for May, Eklavya Gupte talked to the candidates for the top job

• Survey results: Americas

• Survey results: Asia

• Survey results: Europe

• Measuring the merits of Madrid

  When the US joined the Madrid Protocol in 2003, WIPO was optimistic that it would inspire other countries in the Americas to join the system. Eileen McDermott looks at the progress so far

• Courts adapt copyright levies to new media

  Two recent German Supreme Court decisions have highlighted the differentiated approach required towards copyright levies on new media devices, says Fabian Niemann

• How to deal with the Gulf's IP challenges

  

  Last month Dubai hosted the Fourth Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting. Managing IP and Rouse & Co organized a roundtable to discuss how the issues raised affect IP owners in the region

• Develop your enforcement strategy in Latin America

  Latin America represents an increasingly attractive investment option for many IP owners. But how should they protect their rights there? Managing IP, Olivares & Cia, Baker & McKenzie Latin America and Obligado & Cia hosted a roundtable to discuss the issue

• The French approach to IP issues

  

  Benoît Battistelli, director-general of INPI, also serves as vice-chair of the European Patent Office's Administrative Council and is closely involved in the IP policy preparations that France is making as it gets ready to take on the presidency of the EU in July this year. He spoke to Emma Barraclough about fees, work sharing and the debates about patent litigation in Europe

• Anti-counterfeiting Congress works towards action plan

• Towards a global valuations standard

  Could proposals for a global standard for patent valuation provide greater transparency and clarity for IP owners? James Nurton reports