2017 edition of Asia-Pacific Focus published

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2017 edition of Asia-Pacific Focus published

Our annual publication includes sponsored articles from China, India, Japan and South Korea

The full Focus is available to read online (no subscription required). Hard copies will be sent to Managing IP subscribers and will be available from our booths at upcoming conferences.

Contents

We have two contributions from China. In the first, Kang Quan of DEQI Intellectual Property Law Corporation discusses modifications and measures affecting computer programs in the Chinese Patent Examination Guidelines. The second looks at trade secrets. China does not have a trade secret law as such, but that does not mean that trade secrets cannot be protected, as Ran Wang and Xiaojing Wang of Liu Shen explain.

In recent times, India has become a battle field for standard essential patents (SEP) litigation. Several SEP holders (Philips, Ericsson, Dolby and Vringo) have chosen Indian courts, specifically the Delhi High Court, as the forum to litigate their SEPs. Pravin Anand and Abhilasha Nautiyal of Anand and Anand explain why.

Masayuki Ogura of Shiga International Patent Office compares Japan’s opposition system to that of other countries, and provides tips for opponents and patent owners

Finally, Hyoun Ja Park and Hyun Sil Lee of FirstLaw P.C. provide a Q&A guide to protecting, challenging and enforcing various IP rights in South Korea.

Context

As we discuss in the introduction to the Focus, Asia is increasingly leading the filing of international IP rights as is clear from filing data published by WIPO. Much of this growth is driven by domestic applicants in China.

This trend is likely to continue, driven by government initiatives as well as demand from businesses and consumers. In Japan, for example, the JPO has set out an ambitious list of goals, under three headings, to be achieved in fiscal year 2017 (available on the JPO website in English and Japanese). 

Over the coming decade, trends in Asia will become more important for IP practitioners worldwide, and our free Asia-Pacific Focus is a great place to start reading about them.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Attorneys explain why there are early signs that the US Supreme Court could rule in favour of ISP Cox in a copyright dispute
A swathe of UPC-related hires suggests firms are taking the forum seriously, as questions over the transitional stage begin
A win for Nintendo in China and King & Spalding hiring a prominent patent litigator were also among the top talking points
Rebecca Newman at Addleshaw Goddard, who live-reported on the seminal dispute, unpicks the trials and tribulations of the case and considers its impact
Attorneys predict how Lululemon’s trade dress and design patent suit against Costco could play out
Lawyers at Linklaters analyse some of the key UPC trends so far, and look ahead to life beyond the transition period
David Rodrigues, who previously worked at an IP boutique, said he may become more involved in transactional work at his new firm
Indian smartphone maker Lava must pay $2.3 million as a security deposit for past sales, as its dispute with Dolby over audio coding SEPs plays out
Powell Gilbert’s opening in Düsseldorf, complete with a new partner hire, continues this summer’s trend of UPC-related lateral movement
IP leaders at Brandsmiths and Bird & Bird, who were on opposing sides at the UK Supreme Court in Iconix v Dream Pairs, unpick the landmark case and its ramifications
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