Search results for

The effects of gene sequences must be confirmed by experiment to satisfy the Japanese Patent Office's enablement requirement, so applicants are rephrasing their claims. Naoto Uchida explains

Unlike the US, Japan recognizes an employee's right to remuneration for inventions, causing companies some concern. Michael R Kelly and Naoki Yoshida of Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner explain

Japan aims to protect the rights of licensees during a licensor's bankruptcy, but proposed reforms may not go far enough says Shunji Matsuda of Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu

Ireland: Ireland has been referred to the ECJ for its failure to meet the January 1 1995 implementation deadline for the 1971 Paris Act. Ireland is the only EU member not to have ratified the Act, which revises the 1886 Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. Norway: Police will not appeal a Norwegian appeals court decision that acquitted 20-year old Jon Johansen of piracy charges, ruling that consumers have a fair right to make back-up copies of their DVDs. Poland: The EPC will have 28 members as of March 1, when it enters into force in Poland, which deposited its instrument of accession to the EPC on December 30 2003.

Yoshitaka Sonoda of Sonoda & Kobayashi in Tokyo explains Japan's efforts to encourage IP use and compete more effectively internationally

Stéphanie Bodoni, London

On January 1 2004, Singapore joined most other PCT countries in having a PCT Chapter I national phase deadline of 30 months. Until now, a national phase entry application in Singapore under PCT Chapter I had to be filed within 20 months from the priority date (or international filing date if priority is not claimed).

Since the European Parliament's amendments of September 24 2003 to the Commission's proposal for a Directive on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions - the Software Patent Directive - the debate on the extent to which software-related innovations should be patentable in Europe has turned into a somewhat hysterical battle between lobbyists.

The life science patent battle The generic drugs industry in China is vibrant and growing. Alison Wong of Bird & Bird in Hong Kong examines the present problems posed by generic drug manufacturers and how patentees can protect themselves in China

Technology transfer made easy Increasing overseas investment in China, and rapid economic development, have led to an increase in technology transfer. Xiaoguang Cui of Beijing Sanyou examines new regulations governing agreements