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Using country names or emblems can lend authority to a marketing strategy. Jean-Michel Jost examines what is permitted in Switzerland, the UK and EU

A recent (February 12 2007) judgment of Commercial Court 4 in Barcelona makes an interesting contribution to two issues: imitation and the requirements for imitation to be unlawful.

The New Zealand government is about to bring in tax relief as a means of spurring private sector investment in research and development in New Zealand. This is likely to have the effect of encouraging innovation and investment in intellectual property.

Irish Stock Exchange Ltd's Application Case R 1604/2006, OHIM (Second Board of Appeal) [2007] ETMR 75 concerned an appeal against the refusal of an application for registration as a Community trade mark of the mark Alternative Securities Market in classes 16 and 36. Despite the fact that the mark had already been registered in Ireland, its registration as a CTM was refused on absolute grounds (Articles 7(1)(b) & (c ), and 7(2), Council Regulation 40/94) because the words lacked distinctive character, and were descriptive.

A recent (February 12 2007) judgment of Commercial Court 4 in Barcelona makes an interesting contribution to two issues: imitation and the requirements for imitation to be unlawful.

Recent news in the Turkish media about the registration of Turkish lokum by another party in European Union and thus the prevention of commercial activities relating to lokum in the Community drew the public's attention to the protection of geographical indications (GIs).

Trade marks reproducing familar words are popular among people, even more so if they allude to sexuality. Any moves around such marks provoke interest: what will come next? The Chamber of Patent Disputes of the Russian PTO recently busied itself with Kamasutra.

A recent press statement by the Music Authors' Copyright Protection Berhad (MACP) has taken the Malaysian entertainment industry to task. It announced that hundreds of entertainment outlets around Kuala Lumpur, the nation's capital, would be subject to severe scrutiny if they did not settle their outstanding royalty payments within the given timeframe.

Collections of personal information are assets that can be used to generate economic benefit. However, if not used in accordance with applicable privacy laws, these assets can become liabilities. Businesses operating in Israel that use third party personal information as an asset, or that collect or process third party personal information in the course of business, should note recent amendments to Israel's privacy laws and ensure that their policies and business activities comply with applicable privacy legislation.

A monthly column devoted to IP curiosities and controversies, named in honour of John of Utynam - who received the world’s first recorded patent in 1449