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James Nurton, London

Haier, the Qingdao-based appliance maker, certainly has ambition. While many domestic rivals focus their efforts on supplying China's 1.2 billion home-grown market and others manufacture products to be sold overseas under foreign trade marks, Haier has been rapidly building its brand in China and abroad and has set its sights on becoming one of the top three white goods companies in the world. Emma Barraclough spoke to legal affairs director Su Xiaoxi

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

Companies embarking on a new business venture or undertaking a brand expansion programme under a selected trade mark typically believe that they have taken care of their intellectual property protection needs once they have searched, cleared and made a federal filing for their trade mark. However, these steps do not prevent a third party from securing internet domain names that are identical or confusingly similar. While the steps to protect trade mark rights accord a basis to challenge such third parties, trade mark owners are often surprised at the costs and difficulties that can be associated with enforcing these rights on the internet.

One of the most high profile initiatives within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the government's support of the media and broadcasting industries. For example, Dubai Media City (DMC) is generally considered an enormous success. In the four years since its creation, DMC has firmly established itself as the media hub of the region. With approximately one thousand companies from over 45 countries, it is described on the government's website as "a vibrant mix of talent and resources". And they're probably right.

With discussions on the accession to the European Union and global harmonization of IP protection in an emerging economy, Turkey has experienced remarkable advances not only in the new regulations introduced but also in the enforcement of IP rights.

James Nurton, London

In October 2005, the Provincial Appellate Court of Madrid gave an interesting judgment in an action that Lilly Group had brought against two companies in the business of selling generic products. The judgment confirmed that these companies' advertising was illegal and that there was trade mark infringement. The judgment is particularly noteworthy as high damages were awarded compared to what is usual in Spain.

The South African Patents Act has been amended to ensure that indigenous communities are adequately compensated when an invention that is sought to be patented in South Africa is derived from biological or genetic resources or traditional knowledge from South Africa.

With the publication of mailbox patent applications in the Official Gazette, a fierce battle has erupted between Indian and multinational pharmaceutical companies. According to media reports, Indian drug companies including Cipla, Ranbaxy and Cadila have filed around 45 pre-grant oppositions in the form of representations with the Controller of Patents. Major targets include Novartis' anti-asthma molecule, Pfizer's new controlled use of a known molecule and Scherring's formulation for PEG Interferon Alpha conjugates.