Expert Analysis

David Halstead looks at how the shift to first-to-file – and other, less publicised changes – brings the US closer to international standards

Ken Nishida has worked at Hitachi for 20 years and has specialised in managing the company’s websites since 1995. He is responsible for planning and managing internet and domain strategies, and oversees production and website design. Nishida previously managed media advertising departments that were responsible for events and exhibitions, after he had worked in sales promotion in the IT department for four years. While most brand owners have remained silent about applying for gTLD, electronics company Hitachi is excited by the prospect of having a .brand domain. "We think .hitachi is an effective way to improve our brand value. This is an innovative movement in the world of the internet," Ken Nishida of Hitachi told Managing IP.

What difference does it make if a document is marked confidential? And what can you do about theft of trade secrets worldwide? Six countries are compared and contrasted

US patent reform is not just a prosecution concern; Paul Hunter and Andrew Cheslock explain how to prepare for the changes imposed by the America Invents Act on litigation

Theories that China may never be able to produce game-changing inventions ignore the economic factors pushing the country’s businesses towards incremental innovation. When those factors change, China’s businesses will too, argues David Makman

Google has learnt the hard way that volume matters with smartphone patents. The more you have, the more you can bet – and the longer you can stay in the game. Its aggressive moves to build its stake threaten to distort the patent market and affect more than just smartphones. By Karen Bolipata