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KSR relaxed the standard for invalidating patents on the grounds of obviousness. But how has it been applied so far? John Isacson looks at the lessons for applicants

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.

The growth of India's vibrant generic pharmaceutical industry is, in large part, the result of the government's earlier decision to grant only process patents to pharmaceuticals.

IP owners in Japan have traditionally been reluctant to take their disputes to court. But things are beginning to change. Tomokatsu Tsukahara, the new chief of the IP High Court, and Masami Ichikawa, presiding judge of the IP division at the Tokyo District Court, told Peter Ollier about the changing face of IP litigation in Japan

Andrew Hammond of Valea looks back at the lead-up to the EPO Enlarged Board’s recent decision regarding divisional applications and forward to its possible consequences

Three years ago the European Patent Office launched an innovative project to consider how the IP environment may evolve by 2025. What they discovered will have far-reaching consequences for IP users, owners and policy makers, says project leader Shirin Elahi

James Nurton, London

Yoshitaka Sonoda of Sonoda & Kobayashi reviews Japan's new examination practice and advises how best to structure patent claims under the amended Patent Law

An independent report, by PricewaterhouseCoopers, has recommended that WIPO reduce its headcount by about 200 people and outsource the work of a further 80 to 100 posts. In its report, sent to member states in July, PwC said savings could be made through process reengineering and organizational restructuring, efficiencies from using technology and improved performance management (including addressing high levels of sickness and other absence and poor performance). The report identified printing and publications, premises management, IT and the Worldwide Academy as potential areas for outsourcing.

Many companies fear that initiating a patent infringement lawsuit in Japan is tantamount to inviting the courts to invalidate their rights. MIP and Finnegan Henderson jointly hosted a roundtable in Tokyo to consider inventive step, invalidity and successful litigation techniques in one of the world’s most important markets