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The landmark decision of Genelabs Diagnostics Pte Ltd and Nagase Singapore (Pte) Ltd v Institut Pasteur and Pasteur Sanofi Diagnostics (Civil Appeal No 14 of 2000) was the first patent infringement case involving a biotechnology patent to be heard and litigated in Singapore. In a judgment delivered by Justice of Appeal Chao Hick Tin, the Court of Appeal dealt with the validity and infringement of a patent on the HIV-2 virus. Facts of the case

Zdenka Prádná, of Patentservis Praha, Ltd in Prague, reviews the progress made by customs in seizing infringing goods in the Czech Republic

On April 2, technology standard-makers voted against adding copy-protection support directly into computer hardware, a controversial proposal aiming to smooth adoption of strong anti-piracy safeguards. The vote was closely watched by hardware makers, Hollywood studios and record labels as well as free speech advocates as a signal of how much control the content and computer industries would have over consumers' use of home PCs.

Kathleen E McCarthy, Morgan & Finnegan, LLP

As global trade increases, technology transfer will play a more important role. Walt Bratic and Sanford Warren provide a guide to putting deals together

The Baby-dry case is the first appeal to be heard by the Court of Justice in Luxembourg in proceedings concerning a Community Trade Mark. The Court of First Instance had decided not to register the term Baby-dry, used for babies nappies (or diapers). The court believed that the term is ineligible for registration as a Community Trade Mark. The examiner considered that the trade mark was descriptive of the goods for which registration was sought. She was of the opinion that Baby-dry was composed only of a simple combination of the non-distinctive words baby and dry. The mark therefore consisted exclusively of an indication which may serve in trade to designate the intended purpose of goods (Article 7 (1)(c) of the Trade Mark Regulation) such as those for which registration is sought, ie keeping a baby dry.

Today the Russian Federation is a country where industrial property continues to grow in importance.

The European parliament has finally approved the Copyright Directive. The Directive aims to harmonize protection for copyright protected works and update European copyright law for the internet age. It should now be implemented in each member state within the next 18 months.

It will soon become easier for foreign companies to obtain domain names in Brazil. The Brazilian Internet Administration Committee is about to change its policy which requires a local presence to register a domain name in the country.

In an unexpected turnaround, on December 26 2000, the Clinton administration killed a proposal to allow imports of low-priced prescription drugs into the United States. Congress abandoned the controversial plan on the grounds that it would be unsafe and would not achieve its aim of providing the public with cheap drugs. Describing the proposal as severely flawed, Donna E Shalala , secretary of health and human services, echoed the concerns of pharma companies who believed that without sufficient funding and strict regulations, the plan would have had a devastating effect on public safety.