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Managing IP presents its guide to the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement

Trade mark offices are the gatekeepers between IP owners and a successful trade mark application. But which are doing the best job? John Olsen and Nicholas Bolter present the findings of a survey

In the Singapore patent system, there are a number of search and examination options available to proceed to grant. One option is to request examination based on a search report of a corresponding application. Alternatively, applicants may rely on the final results of a search and examination as to substance of a corresponding application. The concept of a corresponding application is therefore important in pursuing these search and examination options.

Can the owner of an unregistered trade name sue for infringement? This was the main issue tackled by the Supreme Court in its decision issued on March 3 2010, in the case of Coffee Partners Inc vs San Francisco Coffee & Roastery, Inc (GR no 169504). Coffee Partners, a domestic corporation registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in January 2001, has a franchise agreement with Coffee Partners, a British Virgin Islands company organised in 1997, to operate coffee shops using the trade mark San Francisco Coffee. San Francisco Coffee and Roastery is also a domestic corporation engaged in the wholesale and retail sale of coffee, registered with the SEC in May 1995. It registered the business name San Francisco Coffee & Roastery Inc with the Department of Trade and Industry in June 1995, but not with the Intellectual Property Office (IPOPhil).

Kraft Foods Polska Spólka Akcyjna from Warsaw, the owner of the Prince Polo trade mark (R-148617) gave a reasoned notice of opposition to a final decision of the Patent Office on the grant of a a right of protection to the Marco Polo trade mark (R-174796) that was applied for by Zaklady Przemyslu Cukierniczego Mieszko SA for goods in class 30, mainly for pastry and confectionery.

The Mexican Trademark Office (IMPI) usually applies strict criteria concerning trade mark likelihood of confusion and distinctiveness. In order to determine marks' confusing similarity, examiners base their exam on an "analysis of the similarities", determining this from the existence of a common element and disregarding the marks' overall impression.

Jeffrey Shinder offers tips for avoiding rogue behaviour by participants in standard setting organisations

More than 140 guests attended dinner at the Four Seasons Georgetown in Washington DC last month for Managing IP’s third annual North America Awards Dinner

Is European trade mark law harmonised? A new database provides the answer

• Copyright crisis needs global inquiry, says WIPO A WIPO official has called for an inquiry to solve the international copyright crisis.