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In a recent case, the English Patents Court tried the issue of infringement separately from the issue of validity. While this was a first for the UK, it is normal practice in Düsseldorf and other German courts. Alan Johnson asks whether the hearing is likely to set a precedent and make English trials more like their German counterparts

In less than six months Germany will host the 18th tournament of the FIFA World Cup, attracting thousands of visitors eager to support their favourite football team. Marketing opportunities will be plenty. But what legal protection will Germany offer to official sponsors to protect them against the marketing practices of unofficial third parties? Boris Uphoff, Rohan Massey and Sarah Brown explain

Emma Barraclough, Hong Kong

WIPO's bid to expand its headquarters has so far cost the organization more than SFr90 million, and led to five investigations and one criminal enquiry. Following the latest report, released by Ernst & Young in December, WIPO's managers want to draw a line under the affair. But some member states believe too many questions remain unanswered. Stéphanie Bodoni investigates

Stéphanie Bodoni, London

"Today we are putting our most valuable intellectual property on the table so we can put technical compliance issues to rest and move forward with a serious discussion about the substance of this case." That was how Brad Smith, Microsoft's senior vice-president and general counsel, explained the company's decision to license parts of its Windows source code to competitors on January 25.

Emma Barraclough, Hong Kong

Translation of priority documents no longer required From January 1 2006, patent applicants are no longer required to provide Korean translations of priority documents unless requested to do so by an examiner at the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) or a trial examiner at KIPO's Intellectual Property Tribunal. Applications where the deadline for submitting a Korean translation of priority documents expires on or after January 1 2006 will be subject to this new rule. As a result, foreign applicants will benefit from substantially lower patent filing costs in Korea because they will no longer need to pay translation costs.

With effect from January 1 2006, the Italian Parliament has abolished all official fees and stamp duties due in Italy on patents (including national phases of European patents), utility models and designs. The provision, which is effective immediately, relates to patents, utility models and designs filed from January 1 2006, and – as far as annual and five-year renewal fees due from January 1 2006 are concerned – to cases filed up to December 31 2005.

Recently, the Australian Federal Court considered the principles of the operation of the country's laws on the doctrine of equivalents and adopted the UK "Improver" approach.