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There are many benefits on offer for companies that disclose information about their intellectual assets, say Eiichi Yamamoto and Toshimichi Matano of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

Why knowledge-based societies and economies need to share intellectual property information, and how they can do it. By Johan Renes of Vereenigde

Novartis is fighting a battle in India over the patentability of Glivec. Managing IP analyzes the impact of the case on the international pharmaceutical industry

When business strategy leads a foreign trade mark owner to contemplate expansion of its brand into the United States, the determination as to whether to move forward often depends on an assessment of the risks posed by similar third party marks already in use in the United States. When analyzing the potential impediments presented by third party marks, the foreign trade mark owner (with the advice of US trade mark counsel) would be prudent to consider not only exact trade marks and confusingly similar marks for the identical goods or services but also third party marks which cover arguably related goods and services.

In a recent decision (Cofresco Frischhalterprodukte GmbH & Co KG v Controller of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks & Reynolds Metals Company (Ms Justice Finlay Geoghegan, June 14 2007), the Irish High Court dismissed an opposition to the registration of the trade mark Tub-Its. This case outlined the general principles relevant in Ireland to an assessment of the likelihood of confusion between marks registered in respect of similar goods. In particular, it considered the assessment of the degree of visual, aural and conceptual similarity between marks and the extent to which a judge may bring his or her own experience as a potential buyer to bear on the assessment of the likelihood of confusion.

James Nurton, London

The new USPTO rules on claims and continuations have provoked controversy, dismay - and already one court challenge

Peter Ollier, Hong Kong

Litigation specialists reveal how to prepare and manage electronic discovery in US patent trials

The rulings in MedImmune and SanDisk may also force trade mark owners to re-think their enforcement strategies