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Patent applicants who want to pay for searches for prior art, novelty, invalidity, infringement and freedom to operate will no longer be able to hire the services of European Patent Office officials from the beginning of September.

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 criminal action for infringement or unfair competition, the Department of Justice (DOJ) conducts a preliminary investigation. If it is convinced that probable cause exists, it files a complaint (called the Information) before the proper regional trial court (RTC). In case the DOJ moves to withdraw the information, should the RTC grant this as a matter of course? And if the DOJ decides to file the same Information again, will this constitute double jeopardy? These are the main issues tackled in the case of Summerville General Merchandising & Co Inc vs Hon Antonio Eugenio Jr et al GR 163741, decided by the Supreme Court on August 7 2007.

One of the main problems in enforcing IP rights against transit merchandise in Mexican Customs has been the interpretation of the concept of "importation" that some local officers apply when dealing with infringement proceedings, specifically with border measures.

Just one click and in the blink of an eye I am in the European Patent Office (EPO) locating in Munich (Germany) or The Hague (the Netherlands) or in the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) in Alicante (Spain) but when I look out from the window I see an office backyard in Helsinki (Finland).

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

Emma Barraclough, London

Panellists in a web seminar organized by Managing IP and VeriSign discussed the latest online challenges to brands - and how to fight them

Trade mark owners generally agree that trade marks should have strong protection and that well-known marks deserve more.