Search results for

Pharmaceutical patents are at the forefront of litigation in Canada. Andrew Bernstein and Grant Worden of Torys LLP in Toronto explain why, and consider proposed changes to rules on generic drugs

Stéphanie Bodoni, London

The US Supreme Court this years handed down rulings in two of the most anticipated IP cases of recent years. Sam Mamudi analyzes what the judgments mean for rights owners

Emma Barraclough, Hong Kong

The United Arab Emirates recently signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with the United States. The purpose of the agreement is to develop ways for both countries to expand their bilateral trade and investment relationship. The value of trade between the US and the UAE was reported to be in the vicinity of $4.6 billion in the year 2003 and with an open market and a large economy, the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) should bring more investment into the country and this figure could grow exponentially. A good example of how much open markets can do is the success that the various free zones established in the UAE have had. The FTA will also enhance the technology base here. But what does this mean for companies coming into the UAE?

Singapore's government could soon consolidate the way that it regulates medicines and other health-related products. At the moment, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), Singapore's equivalent of the US Food And Drug Administration (FDA), regulates medicines and other health-related products. The HSA's powers are contained in a wide variety of legislation, such as the Medicines Act, the Poisons Act, the Sale of Drugs Act and the Medicines (Advertisement and Sale) Act. Through these laws, the HSA controls the manufacture, import, distribution, promotion and sale of health-related products in Singapore.

Herb Wamsley, executive director, Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO)

On June 21 2005, the Secretary of Health issued Administrative Order Number 2005-0016, entitled General Policies and Guidelines Governing Brand Names of Products for Registration with the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD). BFAD officials are thought to believe that IP issues relating to brand names have impeded their ability to implement effectively the misbranding provisions of Republic Act 3720, known as the Food, Drugs and Devices and Cosmetics Act. The most important features of the new Order are:

Any truly international IP owner has to keep up-to-date with enforcement developments in the Americas, both North and South. In many areas, form patentability to copyright, the US courts have set standards that have been followed in the region and throughout the world. This year, the Supreme Court has produced two IP-related judgments, which MIP's Americas editor Sam Mamudi analyzes in the introduction. One focuses on the safe harbour for researchers who use patented compounds; the other on the topical issue of music downloads.

Emma Barraclough, Hong Kong and Sam Mamudi, New York