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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

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.

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.

James Nurton, London

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.

Going after counterfeiters is a tricky task for brand owners anywhere in the world. The trick is to be strategic about the course of action one plans to take. The same principle counts also in the United Arab Emirates, where rights owners can choose from a range of options, says Lara Haidar of The Rights Lawyers

The revised IP law that Egypt introduced three years ago following its accession to the WTO signalled a will to rebuild international confidence in the country's ability to protect IP right owners. Khaled El Shalakany of Shalakany Law Office provides a detailed overview

IP owners have for the past 10 years been able to file for patent protection in several countries in one simple step - with the Gulf Cooperation Council patent office. Stéphanie Bodoni spoke to Ebrahim A Al-Mannai, the GCC patent office's assistant general-director, who has been with the office since the beginning

Italy's technology transfer regime has recently been updated in line with EU and international requirements. Foreign companies looking to license their technology in Italy have to watch out for several new provisions. Michel Jolicoeur of Racheli & C provides an overview