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The European Commission has bucked international trends by proposing fee reductions of up to 30% for Community trade mark applications. But not everyone is pleased with the plans. James Nurton reports

As part of its internationalization process, Chile is due to introduce reforms to its IP laws to bring them in line with the requirements of the TRIPs Agreement. Eduardo Molina and Sergio Amenabar explain what the changes will mean for rights owners

Sam Mamudi, New York

Emma Barraclough, Hong Kong

Taiwan's 2004 achievements in IP TIPO completed revision of Examination Guidelines for Patents, Examination Guidelines for Three-dimensional, Sound and Colour [trade marks] and Examination Guidelines for Likelihood of Confusion - all published for patent and trade mark examiners in the hope of improving examination quality. The Copyright Act was amended in September, broadening copyright protection to the digital world. The Integrated Enforcement Task Force was reorganized and renamed the IPR Police on November 1. On November 23, the IPR Police raided a warehouse, seizing more than 10,000 counterfeit clothes items with a value of $937,500. The director-general of Customs held three nationwide workshops from October to December, educating more than 100 customs officials on IP inspection skills. On June 8, at the Judicial Yuan's Senior Officers meeting it was decided that a dedicated IP court would be created in Taipei's Shilin District. Plans detailing the court's establishment are being formulated. One of Taiwan's most senior IP figures has set out a far-reaching plan to strengthen the country's rights framework, and offer owners greater protection and enforcement measures.

In the US, federal judicial courts compete with each other to handle patent litigation. Roderick McKelvie and Scott Weidenfeller examine whether recent reforms in the Western District of Pennsylvania will attract more cases to its court

Jason P Rogers of James & Wells provides a guide to protecting pharmaceutical and biotech inventions in New Zealand, and previews the changes expected under proposed changes to the Patents Act

Monica Hyon-Kyong Leeu and In Hwan Kim of Kim & Chang explain how the KFDA's drug re-examination system provides protection for pharmaceutical data in Korea

Biological resources can provide commercial opportunities but their importance for local communities must also be respected. Sunita K Sreedharan of Anand & Anand examines how India has reconciled conflicting demands in this area

Ned Israelsen and Christopher Sweeney of Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear argue that, when it comes to big pharma's research and development pipeline, the low-hanging fruit has been picked and it's time to tend the orchard