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Sam Mamudi, New York

Emma Barraclough

The CII directive has provoked controversy since it was first proposed, and opinion remains bitterly divided on its merits. As the European Parliament prepares to consider the latest draft, five commentators provide very different perspectives

Some of the best inventions are the simplest ones. The invention often lies in finding a neat solution to a well-known problem. Unfortunately, when patent lawyers and the (English) courts assess the differences between the invention and the prior art, the simplicity of an invention can sometimes be lost by focussing on the detail. A recent decision from the Court of Appeal, which upheld the validity of a relatively simple patent, is of note, particularly the comments made by Lord Justice Jacob on the "obvious to try" test (Saint-Gobain PAM SA v (1) Fusion Provida Limited (2) Electrosteel Castings Limited [2004] EWHC 2469 (Ch)).

The Singapore Patents Act deals with international patent applications that enter the National Phase in Singapore via PCT Chapter II (where the international filing date is before July 1 2004). Under the Act, the Patent Office must receive a copy of the International Preliminary Examination Report (IPER) before it can grant a patent. Simply issuing an IPER does, however, not guarantee that an international application is patentable.

Nederlandsch Octrooibureau, The Hague

Protecting format rights in the Middle East is really no different than anywhere else in the world. There are no formal provisions in the law here for the registration of format rights.

Scientific research that looks for useful applications, processes, or products in nature is called biodiversity prospecting, or bioprospecting. In many cases, bioprospecting is a search for useful organic compounds in microorganisms, plants, and fungi that grow in extreme environments, such as rainforests, deserts, and hot springs. Malaysia, being one of the 12 mega-diverse countries in the world, and rich with biological diversity, is an attractive location for scientists to conduct these bioprospecting activities.

There is more to registering a trade mark than simply filling out a form. A trade mark search can be an invaluable aide in assessing whether your mark has validity, says Tamar Niv Bessinger

After months of fierce debates, EU Council ministers adopted a common position on the controversial software patent directive last month. The adoption was unexpected, leaving the European Parliament fully responsible for the future of the law. Stéphanie Bodoni reports