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The Emergency Ordinance No 100/2005 on the protection of industrial property rights has been passed in Romania, implementing the provisions of Directive 2004/48/EEC (of April 29 2004), regarding the observance of intellectual property rights.

After a four year battle with a number of New Zealand clothing companies (the opponents), the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU) has failed in its attempt to register what it described as a "three dimensional shape being a black rugby jersey, or casual shirt made in the style of a rugby jersey, bearing a fern with a white collar" (see diagram).

The Malaysian Intellectual Property Office (MyIPO) has not, until now, allowed a third party to inspect and obtain copies of any documents other than the granted patent specification, unless the patent owner gives written consent. This is despite the provisions in sections 33 and 34(1) of the Patents Act, which allow any party to inspect and obtain extracts of granted patent files. The position taken by MyIPO is that any communication between the applicant and MyIPO, other than the granted specification, should remain confidential, even after grant of the patent.

Pascale Chapdelaine, manager of the IP team at one of Canada's largest companies, BCE, explains her role in the company to Sam Mamudi

As General Counsel for one of Canada's most successful companies, Richard Brait's focus is as much global as local. He tells Sam Mamudi how his company handles its IP portfolio

In January 2006 the ECJ handed down its judgment rejecting the opposition of the Picasso Estate (owners of the trade mark Picasso) to the registration of the mark Picaro for "vehicles and vehicle parts and omnibuses" in class 12.

The Singapore High Court recently clarified the legal position concerning shape marks.

According to a general principle of French law, in any judicial proceedings, the plaintiff has the burden of proving the facts alleged in support of his claims. Therefore, the person purporting to hold an IP right must adduce evidence of the alleged infringement. This evidence must cover five aspects:

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

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