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Emma Barraclough, Hong Kong

Several journalism incidents over the summer have left a big question mark as to where the line is drawn in relation to freedom of the press in the UAE. Early in June, a female reporter for a prominent daily English newspaper was on her way to Greece when she was stopped at the airport and informed that there was a warrant for her arrest. The warrant was prompted by an article she had written in February about a man who was reportedly slashing women in the nearby Emirate of Sharjah. The police said a victim had raised a complaint against the reporter but it soon became clear that the arrest was made by the Sharjah police who later contended that her article may have helped the attacker escape by alerting him to their investigation.

According to the last paragraph of article 78 of the Industrial Property Law (LPI), when resolving a patent invalidity claim, the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) can, besides denying invalidity, declare the whole patent invalid or partial invalidity.

Of all the IP regimes in Australia, copyright has seen the most dynamic developments and reforms in the last 18 months, particularly in relation to digital technology. Cameron Harvey and David Wilson of Deacons explain what the changes mean for IP owners and users

In May 2003, when India's Patent Act was amended, a new Section 107A was introduced. This provided for a research exemption as an exception to the general rules of patent infringement. Commonly known as a Bolar provision, this research exemption enables a manufacturer of generic drugs to use a patented invention to obtain marketing approval without the patent owner's permission before the patent expires. The generic drug maker can then market their own version of the patented drug as soon as the patent expires.

Consumer groups argue that parallel trading leads to cheaper prices but trade mark owners say it jeopardizes their long-term relationships with both distributors and consumers. Peter Hallett of Griffith Hack explains what IP owners can do to stop the trade in Australia

Stéphanie Bodoni, London

On September 26 2005, China's State Administration of Industry and Commerce promulgated the new Trade Mark Review and Adjudication Rules. These will come into effect on October 26 2005. The rules were last amended three years ago in September 2002.

"The focus of this case is a very small animal, namely a mouse - to use a poet's description, a 'Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim'rous beastie' (R Burns, "To a Mouse", 1785). In all other respects however, this case is not small." This is how the EPO's Technical Board of Appeal starts its reasons for the decision in the long-fought case on the validity of the European patent covering the Harvard oncomouse (T 315/03). The Board made the decision on July 6 2004, less than a year before the expiry of the patent in June 2005.

In a landmark case, a UK court has ruled that oil company BP can stop rivals from using its distinctive colour green on their service stations. Ian Wood, Nicola Boxall and Mary Bagnall examine the decision