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Given the time that intellectual property proceedings usually take, and the insufficient expertise among the judges hearing the cases, in Colombia the parties to IP conflicts are increasingly resorting to alternative methods such as arbitration and conciliation.

Design protection in Singapore is based on the 1949 UK law. But, say Drew & Napier, a recent case reveals important differences in application of the law

There have been a number of interesting cases in India in the past year. Pravin Anand and Saikrishna Rajagopal, of Anand and Anand in New Delhi, examine some of the most important

The use of the Internet in Romania is still in its infancy. So is the legal structure for registering domain names. Daniel Plosca and Lucien Enescu, of Rominvent in Bucharest, look at existing structures and explains what action businesses should take.

Libel not an effective recourse in the UK

Apple Computer has won world-wide injunctions stopping the manufacture and sale of iMac lookalike Windows systems.

Seattle leaves issues unresolved

Trade marks which, either intrinsically, or because they are popular on the market, have a clear distinctiveness, enjoy a broader degree of protection than trade marks which are less distinctive. This criterion emerged from the ruling handed down by the ECJ on November 11 1997 in the Puma v Sabel case. The question of when a trade mark is well-known has remained unanswered for some time. However, although this question has a bearing on the application of Article 5, Paragraph 2 of the Trade Mark Directive and of Section 13A, Subsection 1 under c of the Uniform Benelux Trade Marks Act which stipulates that the owner of a well-known trade mark can oppose the use thereof or of a similar sign for dissimilar goods or services if such use can result in an unfair advantage being derived from the trade mark or the distinctiveness or reputation of the trade mark being impaired.

UK & Netherlands: European law firm Eversheds and leading Netherlands practice Boekel De Nerée merged on January 1 2000. The new firm combines Boekel De Nerée's 250 staff and Eversheds' 3,300 staff.

In a recent decision of the appeals division of the Trade Mark Registry, the proprietor of a well known trade mark has for the first time since the introduction of the Trade Marks Act 1994 (TMA 1994) succeeded in preventing a third party from registering the same name for a completely different product.