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? Australia: Gilbert & Tobin, the law firm, CyberResearch, a technology commercialization and investment adviser, and Intellectual Capital Management Group have launched realiseIP, a strategic intellectual asset management company, aimed at helping Australian companies "provide shareholders with greater return on investments, improve corporate governance, increase competitiveness and reduce the risk of costly IP infringement".

Korea has become the 57th country to join the Protocol relating to the Madrid Agreement concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid Protocol) by depositing an instrument of ratification of the Protocol with the WIPO on January 10 2003. As of April 11 2003, three months after the instrument of ratification was deposited with the WIPO, the Madrid Protocol entered into force in Korea. Upon joining the Madrid Protocol, obtainment of a trade mark registration in Korea for foreign applicants is possible in two ways. An applicant can designate Korea as one of the target countries in his international application. Otherwise, he can file a separate national application to the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO).

Rapid innovation and intense investment in the biotech industry has required patent protection to adjust accordingly. Antonina Pakharenko-Anderson explains how Ukraine is rising to the biotech challenge

? Europe: The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) has issued brochures to universities in 29 countries in Europe, South America, Asia and Australia outlining the legal and technological issues of online file-sharing networks.

On March 3 2003, the Competitiveness Council of Ministers of the European Communities reached agreement on a "common political approach" concerning the proposed Community patent. This "common political approach" includes the main outlines of the system of jurisdiction whereby a centralized Community Court would rule on disputes, the language regimes, costs, the role of national patent offices and the distribution of fees.

Mexican trade mark law establishes: "industrialists, merchants, or service providers may use trade marks in industry, in commerce or in services render; nevertheless, the right to their exclusive use is obtained through their registration with the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property". The same rule applies to slogans or publicity phrases.

Football club Tottenham Hotspur has successfully reclaimed a disputed domain name in the 5,000th cybersquatting case heard by WIPO.

The intersection of intellectual property and antitrust law is becoming an increasing source of private litigation and government investigation in the United States. David Balto outlines why, and when, IP counsel should seek advice

Ingrid Hering, London

The Harvard oncomouse drew world attention to the issue of patentability of life forms. Pierre-André Dubois and Kate McCallie explore the divergent approaches of patent authorities in the US, Canada and the EU