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The scope of IP protection in the biotechnology and life sciences sectors in Canada and the extent that such IP rights may preserve market exclusivity has been shaped by a number of recent authoritative judicial decisions. Arthur Renaud and Martin Kratz of Bennett Jones look at two areas that have particularly been shaped by the courts

IP owners can expect quicker and cheaper protection of their rights in Italy following the introduction of a revised IP law earlier this year. Trade mark owners in particular will be pleased to hear that the law now is on their side for the enforcement of their rights against cybersquatters. Francesco Terrano and Donatella Prandin of Bugnion explain

The success of technology transfer for universities in the US has prompted other governments to introduce or reform their laws governing licensing, as James Nurton and Emma Barraclough explain

Sam Mamudi, New York

The Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) recently announced it will provide a new system called the Korean Patent Information Online Network (K-PION) from November 2005. As such, foreign patent offices can now access English translations of Korean patent documents through K-PION.

Registrations of the new .eu domain names started on December 7 2005. To protect the interests of brand owners and companies there is a sunrise period in which they will be allowed to apply for .eu domain names corresponding to their trade marks and company names. The general public will have to wait until 7 April 2006 before they can make applications. It is hoped that this head start will help to prevent a flood of abusive registrations by cybersquatters, but brand owners and companies must act quickly to take full advantage of it.

Patented drugs are expensive and are out of the reach of the majority of citizens in the developing world. As a result, activist groups and non-governmental organizations continually put pressure on governments to ensure that poor people are able to access drugs at prices they can afford.

Infringement of world famous geographical indications (GIs) is becoming increasingly common in Asia, including in India. Shoppers are able to find a number of goods bearing fake GIs in India. However, very few owners of high-value GIs have sought to register their GIs in India. Therefore, it is time for the world to know that an effective GI registration system exists in India and that IP owners can enforce GIs effectively by launching lawsuits.

The Full Court of the Australian Federal Court recently took an expansive view of the bounds of obviousness in a lengthy decision on the Viagra patent litigation between Pfizer and Eli Lilly (Pfizer Overseas Pharmaceuticals v Eli Lilly and Company [2005] FCAFC 224).

Autocontrol is a private Spanish association whose members are many of the leading advertisers, advertising agencies and mass media. One of its objects is resolving disputes and matters arising in connection with specific advertising.