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A new law and the strict implementation of a plan to speed up litigation have seen Indonesia move closer towards international standards of trade mark protection and enforcement, claim Adolf Panggabean and Erna L Kusoy

Alice Turinas and Bart Showalter compare data protection regulations in the US and Europe and reveal some of the pitfalls that await companies doing business internationally

James Hamilton, Philippe Signore and Christopher Ward explain why design patents are becoming more popular as a means of protection in the US

Rosella L Fernandez, assistant director, and Emma C Francisco, director general, Philippines Bureau of Patents

The situation of intellectual property protection in Russia has long been described by experts as disastrous. The share of illegal videocassettes in the Russian market is 50%, of audiocassettes 64%, and of DVDs almost 100%. In this connection, at the session held on October 3 2002 the Russian government determined the list of urgent anti-piracy measures. A specialized government committee led by the Prime Minister will be engaged in stage-by-stage development of the measures connected with intellectual property protection. It is supposed to improve the legislative base by working out amendments and changes into the existing laws and acceptance of new legal acts. Moreover, Russia intends to sign and ratify international agreements on copyright and related rights protection (namely, the International Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations, the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty).

Singapore's patent rules have been amended this year to recognize search and examination reports and patents issued by the Japanese Patent Office (JPO) in the grant process of Singapore patents. Singapore patent applications with a priority filing date on or after August 15 2002, may rely on JPO search and examination reports and granted patents in place of local search and examination.

Pursuant to the Mexican Law of Industrial Property, the owner or an authorized licensee of a registered mark must use that mark in commerce. If the mark is not used within a three year period, although it will remain in full force until its renewal time, it will be also contestable, and in consequence any interested third party could file a cancellation action against it on non-use basis.

It is no great news to report that bureaucratic delays continue to dog the new Trademarks Act passed by the Indian parliament way back in 1999 with much TRIPs Agreement-compliant hype and fanfare. The latest to join the game of hurdles is a writ filed before the High Court of Delhi, challenging certain aspects of the new law.

In a series of four decisions rendered recently by the German Federal Supreme Court (BGH), the Court considered the extent to which the doctrine of equivalents applies to patent claims reciting numerical ranges: BGH GRUR 2002, 515 - Schneidmesser I (in English, Cutting Knife I); 519 - Schneidmesser II; 523 - Custodiol I; 527 - Custodiol II.

In July 2000, the Korean Supreme Court handed down its first decision specifically stating the requirements for the doctrine of equivalents. Afterwards, many other relevant precedent cases have also been decided in a rather short period of time.