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It has been predicted that Malaysia is likely to be a leader in the global pharmaceutical industry. The predicted growth of the pharmaceutical industry in 2008 will be through the increasing numbers of pharmaceutical manufacturers that are seeking to outsource or in-license their operations. The future market trends seem to be shifting towards consumption of generics as well as biotech and specialist therapies. Hence, the opportunity for healthcare companies venturing into Malaysia looks bright. This will, in turn, enable the country not only to expand its footprint in the Asia-Pacific healthcare industry, but also globally.

According to Article 4.1(i) of the Slovak Trade Mark Act, a sign shall not be recognized as a trade mark where the Industrial Property Office of the Slovak Republic (the Trade Mark Office), on the grounds of oppositions filed pursuant to Article 9, decides that it is identical with or confusingly similar to an author's work created prior to the filing date of the application whereby using such a sign the author's copyright could be affected.

Changes in supplementary protection certificates can mean a difference of millions of euros per month for the value of pharmaceutical products, say Dr Martin Huenges and Dr Dirk Bühler of Maiwald

Hendrik Wichmann and Fritz Lahrtz of Isenbruck Bösl Hörschler Wichmann Huhn outline how differences between German and EPO patent law are causing problems for patent applicants

Whether small groups are offering their research to bigger firms, or big companies seek the research results of smaller ones, Germany is an excellent place for them to be, says Dr Jochen Bühling of Krieger Mes & Graf v der Groeben

Dr Michael Bergermann and Axel Verhauwen of Krieger Mes & Graf v der Groeben tell why Düsseldorf District Court is the jewel in Germany's patent system

Anand and Anand, New Delhi

Eileen McDermott, New York and Eklavya Gupte, London

Supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) as provided by Regulation 1768/92/EEC can extend the lifetime of a patent protecting medicines for up to five years. SPCs were devised to compensate for the reduced duration of these patents caused by the lengthy procedures involved in obtaining marketing authorization before the launch of a new medicinal product.

The EPO is the latest patent office to sign up to a patent prosecution highway. But do these schemes offer more advantages to applicants or examiners? Emma Barraclough reports