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In August, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce of China (SAIC) announced it was launching a nationwide action to combat free-riding of goodwill. Such free-riding refers to unauthorized use of another's reputable trade name/mark as one's trade name, and using such name on goods/services, thereby confusing the public. Local AICs are required to study this problem thoroughly and proactively initiate administrative actions to stop such infringing acts, including selecting serious and typical cases for focused attention. The SAIC will perform random checks on such actions, and participate where appropriate.

Digital media offer a range of ways for people to infringe copyright. Mexican law is adapting to this situation, but the question is who to prosecute for infringement. Luis Schmidt of Olivares & Cia investigates

The Canadian Trade-marks Office has issued a Practice Notice, effective August 15 2007, stating that the Registrar will "generally no longer require an applicant for registration of a trade-mark to enter disclaimers pursuant to section 35 of the" Trade-marks Act. The Office will, however, continue to accept voluntary disclaimers. Any outstanding disclaimer requests can be overcome by referring to the change in disclaimer practice regardless of whether the request was made prior to the effective date of the notice.

In the Kenya High Court case Mohan Meakin Ltd v Mohan Meakin (Kenya) Ltd and London Distillers Kenya) Ltd, the Indian brewing and distillery giant seeks to restrain the defendants from using and/or asserting ownership of the trade marks Old Monk and Meakin Rum following disposal of the plaintiff's shares in the first defendant in 2001.

Adolfo Athié and Eduardo Kleinberg of Basham Ringe & Correa explain the concept of exhaustion, and examines how it applies to patent, trade mark and copyright assets in Mexico

James Nurton, London

Jorge Amigo Castañeda, director-general of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property, outlines the challenges the Institute faces, and the steps it is taking to improve life for IP owners in Mexico

The sunrise period for the .asia domain begins this month. Emma Barraclough provides a guide to the latest top-level domain

Ethiopia's success in trade marking its coffee has encouraged more countries to consider IP protection for assets previously considered commodities

The authorities now have more powers to prosecute traders of fake goods