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Norton Rose has hired IP litigator Huw Evans from Allen & Overy in London. Evans, who works predominantly on patent cases, will join Norton Rose as a partner in its dispute resolution practice. He is the third new partner to join the team since July 2012, following the appointments of Neil O'May and Liam O'Connell, who joined from Bindams and CMS Cameron McKenna respectively.

Just 16% of internet users would be put off if they received a letter informing them their account had been used to infringe copyright, according to a study commissioned by UK regulator Ofcom. The study was conducted by Kaspar Media and involved online and face-to-face interviews with a representative sample of 4400 people. It was financially supported by the UK IPO. The UK's Digital Economy Act provides for warning letters to be sent to internet subscribers who have downloaded illegal content. But its implementation has been delayed by legal challenges, and the first letters are not expected to be sent out until the middle of 2014 at the earliest.

US litigation being fought between two shoe makers could force brand owners to think twice about suing for trade mark infringement. After being sued by Nike for allegedly infringing its mark on a best-selling pair of trainers, sports manufacturer Already is urging the Supreme Court to let it pursue cancellation of the mark despite Nike's efforts to drop the case. If Already prevails, trade mark owners will no longer be able to automatically end litigation by signing a covenant promising not to sue their competitors. By signing the covenant, brand owners aim to strip the district court of jurisdiction over the infringer's declaratory judgment claim or counterclaim for cancellation of the mark.

A settlement between HTC and Apple that was announced by the two companies last month will end at least 10 unresolved lawsuits across three countries involving around 39 patents and 21 firms. In the UK, there were two trials scheduled for lawsuits brought by HTC against Apple.

Premier Xi Jinping Enforcement minister relegated Concern over Tian Lipu's retirement Most legal reforms should stay on track In November new leaders of the world's two biggest economies were elected. While Barack Obama in the US is a known entity, the impact of China's Xi Jinping coming to power is less predictable. But the leadership shake-up has already seen a series of promotions that could affect the way that China handles intellectual property.

Positive response to Rolfe report on AIPPI Judges compare FRAND practice Four new resolutions passed Robin Rolfe pitches her report Change is on the cards for AIPPI, if the reception given to the Robin Rolfe Report at the Congress in Seoul is anything to go by.

Retired judges criticise the AIA How to share a trade mark The PTAB pitches for your work Chief Administrative Patent Judge James D Smith One of the most popular sessions at this year's AIPLA annual meeting involved three retired patent judges debating the merits of the America Invents Act. The session was so packed that the roughly 1,000 attendees overflowed into the hallways. The panel included former Chief Judge of the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Paul Michel, former Administrative Patent Law Judge on the USPTO's Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences, Judge Nancy Linck, and Judge Joseph Farnan, who retired from the US District Court for the District of Delaware. All three judges were frank in their criticism of the America Invents Act, which Farnan said includes "eye wash, feel-good" remedies for the courts. "This Act is a lot about reining in certain types of patentees, but it doesn't take a broad brush to reforming the system," said Farnan. "In district courts, it's going to be a lot more litigation and confusion," he added.

Surprise announcement after US election Kappos "strongest leader in at least a generation" Robert Armitage suggested for the job USPTO director David Kappos surprised the IP community last month when he announced he would step down from his post in January. He was quickly lauded as one of the most successful directors the Office has ever had.

In the luxurious Ceylan Intercontinental hotel in Istanbul this month, nourished throughout by strong coffee and Turkish delight, trade mark practitioners discussed "advanced anti-counterfeiting strategies". Meanwhile, across the Golden Horn, at the city's Grand Bazaar, traders were doing a brisk trade in the sale of fake handbags, trainers, sportswear and sunglasses – many of them imported from China and sold at competitive prices to tourists from western Europe.

IP owners should be wary of anti-monopoly concerns when doing business in China, Baker & McKenzie partner Clara Ingen-Housz warned this week