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Europe's politicians must reform the EU's patent regime if its businesses are to be able to compete in a globalised world, argue Paul-Alexander Wacker and Rainer A Kuhnen of Kuhnen & Wacker

Germany's Federal Supreme Court recently clarified the obligations of patent owners to grant licences under the country’s antitrust rules. Gerhard Barth of Grünecker, Kinkeldey, Stockmair & Schwanhäusser explains what they mean in practice

Once the USPTO has completed its review of a trade mark application and determines that it is eligible for registration, such application is published for opposition in the USPTO's Official Gazette. Publication of the application provides any third party who believes that it will be damaged by the issuance of a Certificate of Registration the opportunity to oppose registration of the mark by instituting opposition proceedings with the USPTO's Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

It is a regular and strict practice of the Turkish Patent Institute to examine a trade mark application on both relative and absolute grounds within six to eight months of its filing date. Accordingly, the Institute rejects ex officio an application where the mark applied for is identical or very similar to a prior registration or application for identical or similar goods or services.

The EPO is becoming stricter when it comes to examining parameter patents. Edward Farrington of Valea considers the case law and explains what the trends mean for patent applicants and their business rivals

Russian judges are taking a more relaxed approach to parallel traded products. Ekaterina Tilling of Goltsblat BLP explains what trade mark owners can do to limit grey market goods

As an EU member state, Poland, is bound by Council Regulation (EC) 1383 of July 22 2003 which came into effect on July 1 2004, determining the actions of Customs authorities against goods deemed to be infringing IP rights, as well as the measures to be taken by Customs authorities in respect of such goods. In addition, the territory of Poland as a member state of the EU is subject to an additional regulation, namely Council Regulation (EC)189/2004 of October 21 2004, which came into effect with retroactive date on July 1 2004 and sets executive regulations to the Council Regulation (EC) 1383/2003.

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

Under Article 67(2) of the Japanese Patent Act, if there is a period during which a patented invention is unable to be worked because certain governmental approvals, which are prescribed by the Act to ensure safety or any other disposition designated by Cabinet Order, are necessary for the operation of the patented invention, the duration of the patent may be extended, upon the filing of an application.

On May 28 2009 the German Bundestag passed the Law on the simplification and modernisation of patent law, which introduces major changes to nullity proceedings in patent matters.