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Trade mark owners wishing to enforce their rights on the internet have suffered a setback, after the Court of Appeal in England and Wales overturned a key ruling dealing with similar names on the web.

Stéphanie Bodoni, London

From April 1 industrial designers have a cheaper and more efficient means of obtaining protection for their work when the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement comes into force. Ingrid Hering reports

Decision 486 of the Andean Community, which contains the industrial property law applicable in the Andean Community countries (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela) forbids the registration of trade marks that consist of a sign or indication that designates or describes the quality, quantity, destination, value or place of origin, time of production or indicates other characteristics about the products or services for which the mark will be used. Descriptive expressions lack distinctiveness so they do not have the capacity to distinguish the goods in commerce from similar goods that come from a competitor.

Competing against established rivals such as Ducati, Honda and Kawasaki, the Foggy Petronas Racing World Superbikes team is using technology and branding to give it an edge as this year's competition gets underway

Trade mark lawyers, attorneys, marketing specialists, advertising leaders and regulators were among the 150 delegates who attended the first MIP Brand Management Forum at the Berkeley Hotel on March 9 and 10.

The US-Australia free trade agreement, like the recent US-Singapore agreement, exports some key US patent concepts. Robert Cooper and Michael Swinson examine the extent to which it will change Australian domestic law

IP investigators are probably better known for trade mark infringement and anti-counterfeiting investigations. But Spencer Burgess explains that they increasingly have a role to play in helping companies exploit their patent rights

Following widespread concern that the proposed new Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation would stifle licensing and, ultimately, innovation in Europe, the European Commission has proposed last-minute amendments. Guy Heath examines their impact, and whether or not they adequately address those concerns

The Argentine patent law has recently been amended, and the amendments largely concern preliminary injunctions. This amendment was born from an agreement between the American and Argentine governments, after a consultation round within the WTO framework, and was passed by our Congress on December 4 2003, coming into effect in January 2004.