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Bradley Lytle and Philippe Signore examine how finance-related companies are obtaining and enforcing business method patents in the US, and explain why portfolios of such patents are becoming essential for many companies

There is a fine line between public awareness of a company's trade mark, and everyday use that can genericize the mark, stripping the company of a valuable intangible asset. David Kelly and Monica Riva Talley explain how brand owners can take steps to avoid losing their trade mark rights

Japan aims to protect the rights of licensees during a licensor's bankruptcy, but proposed reforms may not go far enough says Shunji Matsuda of Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

The effects of gene sequences must be confirmed by experiment to satisfy the Japanese Patent Office's enablement requirement, so applicants are rephrasing their claims. Naoto Uchida explains

John A Tessensohn and Shusaku Yamamoto, of Shusaku Yamamoto in Osaka, examine the different strategic options for enforcing patent rights in Japan

Yoshitaka Sonoda of Sonoda & Kobayashi in Tokyo explains Japan's efforts to encourage IP use and compete more effectively internationally

Ireland: Ireland has been referred to the ECJ for its failure to meet the January 1 1995 implementation deadline for the 1971 Paris Act. Ireland is the only EU member not to have ratified the Act, which revises the 1886 Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. Norway: Police will not appeal a Norwegian appeals court decision that acquitted 20-year old Jon Johansen of piracy charges, ruling that consumers have a fair right to make back-up copies of their DVDs. Poland: The EPC will have 28 members as of March 1, when it enters into force in Poland, which deposited its instrument of accession to the EPC on December 30 2003.

Stéphanie Bodoni, London

Stéphanie Bodoni, London

Sam Mamudi, New York