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The .mobi domain name promises IP owners an innovative new way of attracting would-be customers to their websites via their mobile phones. But does the explosion in domain names around the world mean that IP owners are too jaded to care? Shahnaz Mahmud discusses the issues with Pinkard ''Pinky'' Brand, .mobi's director of new markets

Meredith Martin Addy and C Noel Kaman of Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione review recently decided and pending patent cases at the US Supreme Court, and ask what they reveal about the Court's attitude toward the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Emma Barraclough, London

Emma Barraclough, London

Individuals interested in creating an online forum to voice criticism about a particular company's product or service offering often register domain names which incorporate a company's trade mark to be used as so-called gripe sites. These individuals typically claim that their use of a third party's trade mark as part of a domain name constitutes a fair use of that trade mark, thereby creating a legitimate non-commercial interest for the domain name registrant in owning the domain name at issue.

Up until recently, in the UAE, an agency agreement had to be registered at the Commercial Agencies Register at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to be enforceable. This had created a lot of difficulties in the past for foreign companies in terminating agreements where the local agent was not performing under the agreement, as the commercial agency law provided substantial protection to the commercial agents, especially in the context of termination. For example, if the principal terminated an unlimited term commercial agency without cause, the principal was obliged to compensate the agent.

Act 29/2006, of July 26, on Guarantees for and Rational Use of Medicinal and Health Products, which supersedes and repeals the former Medicinal Products Act 1990, was published in the Official State Gazette on July 27 2006. The new Act amends Patents Act Article 52.1, which provides for the exceptions to patent rights, that is cases in which a patent is not effective. The wording is:

The Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) has released guidelines for patent claims covering methods of treatment and Swiss-style claims on its website (www.iponz.govt.nz). They have been issued in an attempt to give applicants some clarity about what may or may not be patentable. In its guidelines, IPONZ has said that each patent application will be considered on its merits and that the guidelines are simply that: guidelines.

Malaysia and the US recently wrapped up the second round of negotiations in respect of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries. This round took place in Washington DC. The first round was held from June 12 to 16 in Penang, Malaysia.

On June 12 2006 a new Industrial Property Code came into force in Mozambique. This article focuses on the main changes brought about by the Code in respect of trade marks, and the consequences of counterfeiting and other infringements of various rights.