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The Mexican Patent Office has finally implemented internal examining guidelines that substantially mirror those of the European Patent Office for the examination of computer software-implemented inventions. The emphasis now to be placed by Mexican examiners examining computer software-implemented inventions is on the technical characteristics that have a technical effect rather than on the subject matter of the invention.

A recent decision of the UK High Court has confirmed that Trade Marks Registry oppositions can create estoppel in subsequent High Court infringement proceedings.

Italy has ratified Directive 98/44/EC on the protection of biotechnological inventions, aimed at harmonizing the laws of the member states to promote investment in the field of biotechnology and avoid barriers to trade.

For two weeks in March, more than 350 people gathered at Singapore's Suntec Center to finalize a new international treaty on trade marks, 12 years after the original rules came into existence. But what will the Singapore Treaty mean for rights owners? Emma Barraclough reports

James Nurton, London

Sex, drugs and religion are just some of the subjects that can prompt refusal of trade mark applications on the grounds that they are against public policy or morality. MIP correspondents consider what is banned in different countries, and look at recent cases where the boundaries have been tested (note: some references may cause offence)

As the EU expands, the number of oppositions to Community trade mark applications is on the rise. Guy Heath and Eesheta Shah argue that, to be successful, it is imperative that applicants know their enemy

AUSTRALIA: IP Australia is proposing to amend regulations dealing with the search results disclosure regime under the Patents Act 1990. The changes should simplify the fee system for providing search results and clarify some of the terms used in the regulations. AUSTRALIA: The Advisory Council on Intellectual Property, a federal government advisory body, has recommended that the law be changed so that business names can only be registered if searches of the trade mark register show there to be no conflict with registered or pending trade marks in the same field of business activity.

US: The USPTO has published its list of the top 10 universities receiving the most patents in 2005 (see table).

It has been another busy year for the courts in Luxembourg. Ilanah Simon says that, while case law on registrability is now well settled, questions remain on the scope of trade mark owners' rights, and what determines how far they can extend