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In view of the high priority the Malaysian government gives to intellectual property, the Malaysian Intellectual Property Corporation (MyIPO) has undertaken the task of speeding up patent registration in the country. As of last year, at least 33,000 patent applications had been filed with MyIPO and that figure is expected to rise sharply. In view of this huge growth and the impending backlog of applications, the Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs has announced that MyIPO will hire between 42 and 100 external examiners to help it assess and examine patent applications. These external examiners will come from various technical organizations, including the Standards and Industrial Research Institute (SIRIM). In addition to being a source of external examiners, SIRIM is also training an additional 500 patent examiners who will eventually be recruited by MyIPO to assist in expediting the registration process.

As reported in the April issue of MIP, the implementation of the so-called biotech directive (EU directive 98/44/EC) into the German Patent Act (GPA) has become effective. This implementation, however, does not only affect material patent law with respect to biotechnological inventions, but also led to a change of §24 GPA regulating the requirements of compulsory licences.

Graphic health warnings have hit the tobacco industry and are threatening to jump to other consumer goods sectors as well. Toe Su Aung warns that the regulators' increased use of shock therapy labelling could seriously impinge on the value of brands and IP rights

A recent US court ruling has given the green light to all kinds of pop-up advertising. But, says Jonathan Moskin, by turning to the fair use doctrine, the court could have blocked infringing cases while leaving most such ads free to pester internet users

Applicants interested in protecting business methods and software-related inventions in Mexico are not completely prevented from protecting these types of inventions if certain considerations are taken into account. Although Article 19, Section III of the Law of Industrial Property expressly deems business methods per se and software per se to be unpatentable, an applicant can rest assured that the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) has been allowing and issuing business methods and software-related patents.

India's burgeoning biotechnology and IT industries have helped revitalize the country's economy. Shardul S Shroff and Dev Robinson from the law firm of Amarchand Mangaldas explain how the legal landscape has changed

One artist's determination to fight for the moral rights of his work has set new precedents in the area of copyright law. Binny Kalra and Shwetasree Majumdar of Anand and Anand discuss the implications of the case

India recently passed a series of significant amendments to its patent law to meet its WTO obligations. But has it done enough? Manisha Singh of Lex Orbis looks at the facts

India's latest amendment to its Patent Act revolutionized the country's IP regime by introducing a product patent for pharmaceuticals. Ahibhusan De and Uma Baskaran of Krishna and Saurastri explain what the new rules mean in practice

A monthly column devoted to the curiosities and controversies of the IP world