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The European Patent Convention (EPC), which provides for a centralized procedure for granting of patents in Europe and the establishment of the European Patent Office (EPO), was signed on October 5 1973. The EPC was extensively revised at a Diplomatic Conference held in Munich in November 2000 and the revised text termed EPC 2000. It was agreed that the EPC 2000 would come into force two years after ratification by 15 contracting states. A number of new states have joined the EPC since November 2000 and they have all agreed to ratify EPC 2000. Thus, when on December 13 2005 Greece ratified EPC 2000, Greece became the 15th state to deposit its instrument of ratification. The EPC 2000 will therefore come into force on December 13 2007, at the latest. Any contracting state of the EPC that has not ratified EPC 2000 by this date will cease to be a contracting state of the EPC.

The District Administrative Court in Warsaw (Case VI SA/Wa 1482/09) confirmed the view of the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland that a single colour per se does not have distinctive character, but that this obstacle to registration as a trade mark may be eliminated by acquired distinctiveness.

A recent Italian legislative decree to relaunch the economy includes tax relief measures related to patents, trade marks and know-how. This decree increases the deductible amortization rate for the costs of the right to use original works, patents, processes, formulas and information related to experience acquired in the field of industry, commerce and science from 33% to 50%.

A judgment in the unsuccessful trade mark opposition brought by Rotary International (RI) against Carl Bird, proprietor of the trade mark Rotary Engine, has issued.

The protection of the appearance of a product is often neglected. Companies tend to focus on patents (protecting technical aspects) or on trade marks (protecting the name of a product) but seldom on the shape of the product.

Several rules of the German Patent Act with regard to oppositions have recently been amended. In order to reduce the backlog of the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (GPTO) in opposition cases, transitional rules were implemented in 2002 that oppositions against German patents filed up to July 2006 have to be handled by the Federal Patent Court instead of by the GPTO. These rules have now been cancelled, so that all oppositions filed from July 1 2006 will again be handled in the first instance by the GPTO.

In accordance with Article 88 of the Mexican Law of Industrial Property (LIP), a trade mark is a visible sign that distinguishes products or services from others of the same kind in the market.

Putting a value on IP during licensing negotiations can be a complicated business. Regina Quek of One Legal LLC outlines some useful approaches and explains the issues that licensees and licensors need to take into account

Singapore's Registrar of Patents has wide powers to revoke a patent once it has been granted. Winnie Tham and Jason Chan of Amica Law LLC explain what the rules mean for IP applicants and challengers alike

In the race to attract overseas investment and nurture home-grown companies, governments in Asia are doing what they can to make life easier for business. Singapore is leading the way, says Emma Barraclough