Expert Analysis

In the first case of its type since the new Patent Act, a patent has been struck out on the basis of a premature sale. Adrian Zahl examines the implications of the decision for patentees in Canada

On May 22 this year, the US Supreme Court decided the most eagerly-awaited patent case in many years, Festo v SMC. The case addresses a key issue for patent holders: what protection is available under the doctrine of equivalents. But was the decision as important as many people have claimed? What effect will it have for patent applicants and litigants in the US? And what impact will it have on the US Patent and Trademark Office, the Federal Circuit and district courts? MIP invited six senior IP practitioners in the US to a round table discussion, held at the Washington DC offices of Finnegan Henderson, to discuss the implications of the Festo decision, as well as other recent patent cases. James Nurton moderated the discussion

A new Bill that will harmonize criminal offences for copyright and trade mark infringement has been introduced in the UK. Sara Elwyn Jones and Helen Cline look at its implications in the war against the pirates

Interview: Mozelle W Thompson, Federal Trade Commission Mozelle W Thompson is a Commissioner with the Federal Trade Commission in Washington DC. A lawyer by profession, he worked at the US Treasury Department and was formerly general counsel at the New York State Finance Agency. The FTC, along with the Department of Justice, is holding hearings on the intersection between antitrust and IP law and policy. Sam Mamudi asked Thompson about his role.

The US Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit may be on a collision course after the higher forum reprimanded the lower and curtailed its powers in patent cases. James Nurton and Sam Mamudi report

Over the next 18 months, 10 central and eastern European countries will receive their patent green card – membership of the European Patent Organization. Ingrid Hering visited some of the candidate countries to find out how they are preparing