Expert Analysis

In the last two decades, intellectual property has steadily grown from being a somewhat esoteric if fascinating niche topic to one that has increasingly attracted the attention of mainstream observers. Legal disputes such as Apple and Samsung's global patent battles have captured the public imagination. Perhaps even more interestingly, government officials and corporate boards are more aware of the value and importance of intellectual property than ever.

After a successful year of adherence to the Madrid Protocol, Vikrant Rana and Ritika Mogha of S.S. Rana & Co. look at how India is becoming an increasingly IP-aware country

Hsiu-Ru Chien and Shih-I Wu of Lee and Li describe jointly-owned patent regulations under the Taiwan Patent Act and court practices in relevant disputes

Ignacio Sapalo and Anne Mariae Jumadla of Sapalo Velez Bundang and Bulilan explain the misconceptions that drugs companies have fostered as a result of the Cheaper Medicines Act

Aminiasi Vulaono and Artika Prasad of Pacific Islands Intellectual Property Services (PIIPS) discuss the challenges faced by developing countries in modernising their IP legislation, and bring us up to date with patent filing changes in Western Samoa

The European Patent Office has launched a project called Early Certainty from Search. The Office’s Vice President Guillaume Minnoye tells James Nurton why it is needed, and explains how it will benefit both applicants and third parties