Expert Analysis

Recently released guidelines for USPTO examiners should help to clarify what is patentable in the murky area of business methods. John L Dauer, Jr explains what the change in policy will mean

Many Asian jurisdictions have adopted dispute resolution policies modelled on ICANN's UDRP. But understanding key differences between national and international practices could mean the difference between success and failure in the battle against cybersquatters. Jennifer Lam and Gabriela Kennedy explain what you need to know in China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan

Canada's courts have reaffirmed the principle of first come, first served for trade mark applications. Robert A MacDonald and Jennifer Galeano examine what the new standard means for rights owners

Isabel Davies reveals how INTA decides when to file amicus briefs in trade mark-related cases and, below, INTA subcommittee chairs describe the impact of INTA submissions in different regions

The future of world trade lies in the hands of politicians from 148 countries. Since September they have been debating and number-crunching about agricultural subsidies and farm tariffs ahead of a showdown in Hong Kong in December. Three IP issues are part of the debate, but their resolution depends on the outcome on agriculture. Stéphanie Bodoni introduces a series of articles that explain the complexities behind finding a long-sought consensus on these three key areas

Recent changes to the provisions on threats in UK patent law have created a more flexible system for patent owners and lawyers. But similar changes are now also needed for trade marks and design rights. Rachel Montagnon and Joel Smith provide an overview