The articles in this year's edition of Managing IP's Asia-Pacific IP Focus reflect a dynamic IP landscape in the region. It is clear countries in this part of the world are engaging with key concerns relating to all areas of IP.
India's burgeoning economy has led to the growth of e-commerce, raising new IP challenges discussed in the piece on intermediary liability in India. This article details the circumstances in which intermediaries are liable for infringement and when they are exempt.
A large proportion of this year's supplement is focused on patents, with articles on common knowledge evidence in China and the treatment of SEP infringement cases by Chinese courts. Korea's patent system is also undergoing changes, with the jurisdiction considerably strengthening patent protection. Also on the topic of patents, a piece on third party observations in Japan weighs up the advantages and disadvantages of the TPO system.
On the trademark side, non-traditional trademarks are proving to be a challenging issue in the Philippines, as they are in a number of countries worldwide.
For those doing business in the Asia-Pacific region, I am sure this supplement will prove invaluable for navigating a terrain that can often seem rocky to outsiders.
Sanjana Kapila
Commercial projects editor