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Last March, the Dutch Court of Appeal in The Hague gave its judgment in an infringement/nullity case where (in first instance) a Dutch firm (Fokker Aerospace) was sued for infringing a European patent owned by a Luxembourg firm (Parteurosa). The patent claimed a convertible container construction. The Court referred to a decision of the Dutch Supreme Court of 1996 that said that partial nullity of a patent is only allowable if it is sufficiently clear to the skilled person taking note of the patent and the state of the art at the filing date what the scope of the remaining patent protection is. In this particular case, the Court found that claims 1, 2 and 19 to 21 were void. The remaining claims 3 to 18 described seven different subjects, and it was not clear from the description, according to the Court, which subject was favoured. Using the above-mentioned Supreme Court decision, the Court of Appeal ruled that the whole patent was void.

The Chinese government says it is tired of seeing companies paying royalties abroad and wants to develop some technology standards of its own. Should the rest of the world be worried? Emma Barraclough reports

Trade mark protection has advanced significantly from the days when marks consisted of words, letters, logos or reproductions of images in two-dimensional forms. In many countries, legislative amendments and continually evolving trade mark practices have extended the scope of trade mark protection to include non-conventional marks such as three-dimensional marks, sounds and even smells.

Changes to Singapore's patent law will greatly help companies seeking pharmaceutical patents. Kristian Robinson and Alicia Sim of Ella Cheong Spruson & Ferguson outline what the reforms will mean

India's patent law has undergone a series of revisions since 1999. Archana Shanker of Anand and Anand highlights the most important changes

Elean Papachristoforou of Andreas Neocleous in Cyprus examines the different means of protection available in the country, and explains how the law has changed following EU accession in 2004

When conducting patent litigation across Europe, it is essential to develop a coordinated, business-led strategy. Peter Hendrick, Bas Berghuis van Woortman and Jodie Flynn of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer discuss the best approach

The numbers of oppositions filed per each patent granted at the EPO vary greatly according to industry. The EPO's T M Haeusser analyzes and explains the latest data

As the value of IP increases, there are more companies willing to take advantage of the patent system to scare others into paying alleged damages rather than face a trial. But, says Bob Cote of Orrick, fighting these so-called patent trolls will pay off in the long run

Heriberto R Lopez of Becerril Coca & Becerril discusses the patentability of software and business methods in Europe and the US, and the situation in Mexico