Expert Analysis

As part of its bid to enter the WTO, Vietnam has consolidated its confusing maze of IP rules and regulations into a streamlined law that comes into force in the middle of the year. Chris Vale examines what the changes mean for IP owners

Recent decisions in the UK and Australia have shown diverging views of what novelty requires. Justin Watts and Peter Chalk ask whether some of the tests applied by the courts to check whether prior art is novelty-destroying are going a step too far

In a recent Australian case, the courts refused a patent for a business method because the invention did not benefit society as a whole. James Walsh and Robert Cooper examine business method patents and consider whether the greater good is a valid reason for refusal

Rules on copyright levies on PCs and other IT devices are not harmonized in Europe. Alexander Duisberg and Fabian Niemann examine the implications of some recent disputes in Germany and compare the scope and level of copyright levies in different countries

As the deadline for the implementation of Europe's enforcement directive looms, Hanne Weywardt and Hea Vinskov examine the lessons from a recent case, involving luxury goods trade marks, in Denmark

In less than six months Germany will host the 18th tournament of the FIFA World Cup, attracting thousands of visitors eager to support their favourite football team. Marketing opportunities will be plenty. But what legal protection will Germany offer to official sponsors to protect them against the marketing practices of unofficial third parties? Boris Uphoff, Rohan Massey and Sarah Brown explain