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When business strategy contemplates the expansion of a particular brand or the introduction of a new brand into the US marketplace, it is recommended that US trade mark counsel first be retained to conduct and review a complete US trade mark search to ascertain the availability of the proposed mark for use and registration. Conducting a full search and obtaining the advice of counsel will, among other things, help a trade mark owner understand the potential risks associated with use of a mark in the United States, assist in developing a plan to ensure the ability to obtain a federal trade mark registration and facilitate an approach to avoid infringement of third party rights.

In Taiwan, although a trade mark owner is not required to submit evidence of use of his/her registered mark to the Trademark Office voluntarily, the registered mark will be vulnerable to cancellation if, without justifiable cause, the mark has not been used for three years following its registration or if, after a period of use, use of the mark is discontinued for a period in excess of three years.

The Polish Parliament has been given a proposal of changes to the Law on Industrial Property (the IP Act). The proposed changes cover several aspects of industrial property protection in Poland, including the protection of trade marks under criminal law. If the proposed changes are implemented, they should have a significant impact on criminal case law.

For the first time in history, the Vatican is working on a law on copyright aimed at protecting the writings, words and images of the Pope, on which there is a real risk of manipulation and speculation.

As Korean industry has rapidly grown, obtaining IP protection has become increasingly important. There have been more patent disputes, and accordingly the costs involved have risen. As a result, industry is now realizing how important it is to resolve disputes as quickly as possible.

Thomas Pattloch was appointed to the newly-created post of intellectual property officer in the EU Delegation in Beijing in April 2006. One year on, he talked to Emma Barraclough about the biggest challenges facing foreign IP owners in China

IP protection in Chile has been overhauled over the past two years, in accord with international agreements. Marcos Morales of Silva & Cia explains that the result is stronger protection for IP owners

The patentability of software and business method inventions continues to be debated in many jurisdictions. Sam Frost and Ebad Rahman explain that, in the past two years, Canada has implemented new guidelines that attempt to provide more uniform, consistent and predictable examination

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

A recent survey of US IP litigation data reveals that the number of patent lawsuits filed in 2005 fell for the first time in 16 years, while the number of trade mark cases continued to rise. Shahnaz Mahmud looks behind the statistics to analyze the trends