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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

Ard Ellens and Jan Kevelam of Nederlandsch Octrooibureau explain how new rules at the European Patent Office may trap the unwary patent applicant

The patenting of biotechnology raises both ethical and practical concerns. Dirk Bühler and Martin Huenges of Maiwald analyse recent cases to consider how the EPO is handling the issues

Litigating patents that are essential to technical standards requires a careful consideration of antitrust rules. Sabine Agé and Amandine Métier of Véron & Associés, Klaus Haft and Tobias Hahn of Reimann Osterrieth Köhler Haft, Mark van Gardingen of Brinkhof and Ari Laakkonen of Powell Gilbert explain the rules in their own jurisdictions

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.

On July 1 2009, the Rule on Mandatory Legal Aid Service, which was issued by the Philippine Supreme Court on February 10 this year, takes effect. This Rule mandates practising lawyers to render free legal aid services equivalent to a minimum of 60 hours a year, in all cases whether civil, criminal and administrative involving indigent and pauper litigants needing lawyers. The purpose of the Rule is to improve access to justice by the less privileged thereby enhancing the duty of lawyers to society as agents of social change, and to the courts.

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.

The China State Copyright Administration published the new Implementing Measures on Administrative Actions against Copyright Infringements by Decree no 6 on April 21 2009. This came into force on June 15 2009 and replaced the old measures issued in September 1 2003.