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Simmons & Simmons and TMI Associates, which was formed from the IP group of Nishimura & Partners in 1990, have formed a qualified joint venture (tokutei kyodo jigyo tai) with effect from September 12. Intellectual property will be one of the joint venture's six core practice groups along with corporate, M&A, finance, commercial and anti-trust law. Simmons & Simmons claims the alliance is the first joint venture between a major Japanese firm and a UK-based international law firm.

As rights owners increasingly face trade mark infringements on the web, they need to be pro-active in enforcement. Ken Taylor provides some tips for handling investigations

Legal changes and commercial needs have opened up new opportunities for trade mark owners in North America. Ingrid Hering reports on how the US and Canada are responding to demands for more novel trade marks

Q Todd Dickinson and Roger L May identify 10 pitfalls that lie in wait for licensees and licensors, and examine how to draft contracts to eliminate them

The discussion of this topic has been revived in the Andean Community by a new discovery on the uses of the drug known as Viagra: relief of psychological depression.

Vladimir Anohin and Victoria Streltsova of Agency Tria Robit in Riga analyze the development of IP enforcement in Latvia, and examine some cases where owners of famous marks have enforced their rights

The Japanese Supreme Court has demonstrated its willingness to give broader protection for famous marks like Polo. John Tessensohn and Shusaku Yamamoto examine the decision

Ralph Cunningham, Hong Kong

Slovakia is expected to join the EPC on July 1 2002. For this reason 2001 saw a lot of work in the field of IP rights, including the adoption and amendment of a Patents Act and a new Trade Marks Act which came into force on January 1 2002. Details of this will be discussed in a later issue of MIP. Industrial designs, which up until now have been governed by Act No 527/90, will be the subject of a new independent Act. The respective Bill is already under discussion and is expected to be passed in the first half of 2002. It is worth stressing that all amendments to Slovak legislation in the field of IP rights are in compliance with the EPC and that Slovakia has taken all the necessary steps to be well prepared for access to the EPC.

Slovakia is expected to join the EPC on July 1 2002. For this reason 2001 saw a lot of work in the field of IP rights, including the adoption and amendment of a Patents Act and a new Trade Marks Act which came into force on January 1 2002. Details of this will be discussed in a later issue of MIP. Industrial designs, which up until now have been governed by Act No 527/90, will be the subject of a new independent Act. The respective Bill is already under discussion and is expected to be passed in the first half of 2002. It is worth stressing that all amendments to Slovak legislation in the field of IP rights are in compliance with the EPC and that Slovakia has taken all the necessary steps to be well prepared for access to the EPC.