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The EPO's Enlarged Board of Appeal is set to give a definitive ruling on the patentability of computer programs in Europe

In the Bilski decision, the Federal Circuit last month reaffirmed that business methods are patentable in the US, but rejected the "useful, concrete, tangible" test set forth in previous opinions

Maintaining consistency and ensuring stability in the patent examination process are crucial to the issuance of quality patents. Marian Underweiser of IBM proposes one way to make the process more predictable

Turmoil in the financial markets over the last few months has led to plunging share prices and boardroom unrest. With IP budgets under intense pressure, Stephen Mulrenan examines what practical steps brand owners can take to negotiate the credit crunch

One of the major novelties introduced by the EPC 2000 is the central limitation proceedings (Articles 105(a), 205(c) and Rules 90-96), according to which the patent owner can request the central limitation of a granted European patent. According to the intention of the EPO, this should be a very quick administrative procedure. From the viewpoint of the national practitioner, the duration of the proceedings are especially interesting with respect to pending national revocation and/or infringement actions.

The Federal Circuit last month ruled that the ITC could not extend a limited exclusion order barring the import of Qualcomm chips found to infringe Broadcom's patent to downstream products

Managing IP asked correspondents in eight jurisdictions that provide some form of protection for GIs or their domestically named equivalent to address the key questions for brand owners

As design protection becomes more common, a number of problems with the Locarno classification have become apparent. David Stone reports on an attempt to update the system

Japanese giants, Matsushita Electrical Industrial Co. (Matsushita) brought opposition proceedings against the applicants, Pensonic Corporation Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian company that applied to register the mark Pensonic with the device of a letter P (trade mark no. T0503804C) for: "Electrical apparatus and instruments, radio and television receiving apparatus, tape and video recorders and combinations thereof, mechanisms for cassette and cartridge tape recorders, stereophonic sound reproducing apparatus and instruments, aerials, loud speakers, head-phones, microphones, radiogramaphones, sound amplifiers and parts and fittings, irons, electric steam irons, electric dry irons, electric flat irons, calculators; all being goods included in Class 9."

On September 1 2008 a new Act of Parliament has come into effect in Germany providing a considerable number of new and amended regulations on the enforcement of IP rights.