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With the US joining on November 2, and the EU committing to membership within the next year, the Madrid Protocol has taken a big leap towards becoming a truly global system. Sam Mamudi and James Nurton examine how the Protocol works now, and how it will develop in the future

Stéphanie Bodoni, London

Antony Taubman, head, WIPO traditional knowledge (global issues) division

Ralph Cunningham, Hong Kong

According with the Mexican Industrial Property Law (IPL), a single colour may not constitute a trade mark, thus resulting in an absolute ground for refusal. Indeed, section V of article 90 establishes that the following are not allowed to be registered as trade marks: "letters, digits or isolated colours, unless they are combined or enclosed with other elements such as signs, designs or words which provide them with a distinctive character".

When the world's richest man hires the architect of the world's most lucrative licensing schedule, the international IP community takes notice. Sam Mamudi visited Microsoft's Seattle headquarters to learn more about Marshall Phelps's plans for the software leader and his views on the IP system

Two trade mark registrations belonging to a renowned designer goods company were recently revoked in the Singapore High Court.

Applicants not familiar with all the particularities of the European patent system are often surprised by the repeated requests of their European representatives to indicate support for the wording of every new or amended claim to be submitted to the European Patent Office (EPO). At the same time, strong feelings often overwhelm European patent attorneys when, during examination, they receive a pile of brand new claims from overseas colleagues with the cheerful remark that the claims have already been issued by their national patent office in a parallel application, together with instructions to file those claims at the EPO. This mutual "misunderstanding" has its roots in the provisions of the notorious Article 123 of the European Patent Convention (EPC), whose second paragraph requires that the subject matter is supported by the content of the original application, whereas the third paragraph prohibits the scope of protection of an issued patent being extended during opposition proceedings.

Malaysia has established a 200 hectare Bio Valley that is close to the well-known Multimedia Super Corridor. It will comprise research, commercial, education, recreation and residential facilities, and will house biotechnology activities such as research and bio processes operating in different technology platforms.

Research is underway into patenting treatments for the Sars virus. But patent systems are not the same everywhere, especially where living organisms are concerned. Researchers need to be aware of the differences, warns Aaradhana Sadasivam