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When two companies could not agree a price for a trade mark sale, they decided to hold an arbitration followed by a mediation. Those involved explain how this unusual process worked

Emma Barraclough, Hong Kong

Several recent changes to Argentina's patent law have affected the courts' approach to preliminary injunctions. Federico Aulmann of Obligado & Cia examines the new law and its potential shortcomings, while Carlos Octavio Mitelman looks at how recent trade mark developments could affect foreign companies

Decision 486 brought about change for IP owners in the Andean Community. Yulena Sánchez-Hoet and Carlos Dominguez-Hernandez of Hoet Peláez Castillo & Duque provide an insight into Venezuela's IP system and explain the benefits of the injunctive relief

A monthly column devoted to IP curiosities and controversies, named in honour of John of Utynam – who received the world's first recorded patent in 1449

Mae Lin Ng and Pui Keng Lim of Advanz Fidelis look at possible amendments to the Trade Marks Act and pick out significant court cases of the last year

It is very difficult to cancel registered trade marks in Vietnam (even cases of obvious bad faith may take up to two years to resolve, which is both time-consuming and costly to rights owners). This means rights holders and their counsel need to quickly oppose trade mark applications prior to registration. Accordingly, it is important to understand the relevant timelines that affect the filing of oppositions in Vietnam.

In 2009, a Swiss Federal Act establishing a specialised Federal Patent Court was passed. The new court will become the only first instance Swiss court for patent infringement and nullity proceedings (which to date have been handled by 26 cantonal courts of first instance), with Swiss national patents and the Swiss parts of European patents falling within the Court's jurisdiction. The Swiss Federal Court will retain its present function as second instance in patent matters. The new Patent Court will be constituted in 2010 and is expected to take up work early in 2011.

Marie-Julie Wan Ullok and Khoo Guan Huat of Skrine describe the progress that has been made in improving IP protection in the life sciences in Malaysia

Indran Shanmuganathan and Malini Madiyazhagan of Shearn Delamore & Co explain the limits of trade mark use and how owners need to be aware of how to use their marks to avoid cancellation actions