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Rules on copyright levies on PCs and other IT devices are not harmonized in Europe. Alexander Duisberg and Fabian Niemann examine the implications of some recent disputes in Germany and compare the scope and level of copyright levies in different countries

The success of several blue-chip companies in licensing their IP portfolios has made executives alert to the benefits of IP commercialization. But, say Don Davis and David Crawford, there are steps you need to take before you can be thinking of matching these corporate leaders

This month, MIP publishes the second and final part of the annual IP survey, ranking the leading firms in trade mark/copyright work worldwide. The tables on the following pages have been compiled following five months of research among IP practitioners. Here's how they were compiled

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

EU: On February 7, the European Commission took legal action against royalty collector CISAC, accusing it of infringing competition law, saying the refusal to grant licences across multiple countries breached Article 81 of the EU competition treaty. CISAC said this was "a narrow and formalistic approach to the complex issue of the collective management of copyrights in Europe".

IP management software systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Web-enabled technology means that systems can be easily deployed across a business and more specifically, because the software is more flexible, the IP department is able to utilize it for more complex business strategy and financial accounting purposes. These developments are invaluable when many IP departments are experiencing increased pressure to accurately track costs, manage and reduce their costs and generate accurate budgets and forecasts.

Once considered an easy target for western companies seeking to assert their patents, Asian companies from Japan to Taiwan are taking the initiative and negotiating some interesting licensing deals of their own. Emma Barraclough examines the trends

In the country's latest bid to open up the patent system by offering cheaper, quicker dispute resolution, the UK Patent Office has launched a low-cost opinion service. But, after the first four cases, not everyone is convinced it will solve the problems. James Nurton reports

In keeping with the general proliferation of the Madrid Union, there are now 12 African member countries but only in Algeria, Mozambique and Morocco are all international registrations, designating those countries, certainly effective and enforceable. In Egypt which has a mixed legal system, it is unclear whether the necessary legislation has been implemented but in practice the Registry and the courts appear to recognize international registrations.

Licensing arrangements provide the ability for a trade mark owner to generate revenue and capitalize on the reputation of their brands. The relationship between a licensor and licensee is, in many ways, an interdependent one. Therefore, trade mark owners carefully select licensing partners based on their reputation for quality and business acumen to ensure that the integrity of the licensor's valuable proprietary rights will be protected. Given the importance of this unique business relationship, licensors typically include language in their licensing agreements that requires the licensor's consent prior to any assignment by a licensee of the licensed rights and obligations.