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Through regular inspections of trade, Argentine Customs often realized that counterfeit goods were circulating, but their hands were tied. Customs authorities were not empowered to detain goods infringing IP rights.

The growth of chief IP officers is the latest trend in the corporate world. But, says, Robert Greene Sterne, each company must tailor the position to achieve success

China: The Trade Mark Office released a draft version of its revised trade mark examination guidelines for consultation. The previous guidelines, drawn up in 1994, had never been made public. The final version must be approved by the State Council, but could be in force by the end of the year.

A monthly column devoted to IP curiosities and controversies, named in honour of John of Utynam – who received the world's first recorded patent in 1449

Many companies have decided to become more open about the need to tackle counterfeiting and piracy, prompting international cooperation in the fight against the copiers. Introducing a series of articles looking at trends in counterfeiting, James Nurton reports from the MARQUES conference in Prague

Emma Barraclough, Hong Kong

Herb Wamsley, executive director, Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO)

Any truly international IP owner has to keep up-to-date with enforcement developments in the Americas, both North and South. In many areas, form patentability to copyright, the US courts have set standards that have been followed in the region and throughout the world. This year, the Supreme Court has produced two IP-related judgments, which MIP's Americas editor Sam Mamudi analyzes in the introduction. One focuses on the safe harbour for researchers who use patented compounds; the other on the topical issue of music downloads.

Emma Barraclough, Hong Kong and Sam Mamudi, New York

For many years the English patents judges have striven to reduce costs and time to trial in patent cases. The streamlined procedure introduced in 2003 is the latest such move. It is proving a great success. Although the procedure was primarily intended for use in smaller patent cases, the flexibility afforded to judges in the way that they can manage cases has influenced the conduct of all patent litigation. Actions are now coming to trial in shorter periods of time (nine months to trial is not uncommon), and trials are shorter in duration. Two recent cases may be seen as indicators of the increasing use of the procedure, and a further shift toward more flexible and efficient patent litigation.