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As the Gulf Cooperation Council’s patent system goes from strength to strength, Ralph Cunningham examines how patent owners are benefiting from improved protection and enforcement throughout the region

The approach of 2005 and TRIPs Agreement conformity has proved to be a great motivator in Asian jurisdictions. A flood of new patent legislation has entered the statute books. Some countries already comply with the agreement. Others have a bit more work to do, reports Ralph Cunningham

Many countries have made significant steps in improving and harmonizing their patent protection in the last year. James Nurton, Ingrid Hering and Ralph Cunningham ask the leading practitioners in 30 emerging markets about the latest trends

Artistic copyright has sometimes been seen as the Cinderella of copyright law. Simon Stokes argues that recent artistic copyright cases in Europe and North America are pushing copyright law to its limits. This has implications for the creative industries generally.

The fair basis requirement has vanished from UK patent law – but remains an important consideration in Australia. Barry Eagar says overseas applicants must pay attention to this requirement and ensure that the claims correspond to the patent specification

New copyright legislation emphasizes China’s commitment to its international obligations. While overseas copyright owners should welcome the new law, enforcement of their rights will remain a challenge, argue Luke Minford and Stella Li

Guylyn R Cummins, Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP

Fifth International Publishers Association Copyright Conference, February 20-22 2002, Accra, Ghana. Details at www.ipa-uie.org, or the Ghana Book Publishers Association, email: ipa2002@ghana.com

Pharmacia Corp, GD Searle & Co and Pfizer Inc (the patentees) were the proprietors of European Patent (UK) 0 679 157 (the patent) relating to chemical compounds having use as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The patentees appealed the findings at trial that the patent was invalid and not infringed by the defendants, Merck & Co Inc and Merck Sharp & Dohme Ltd (Merck). On appeal, the finding of invalidity was confirmed (Court of Appeal, December 14 2001). Merck's chemical compound, sold under the name Vioxx, was held to fall within claim 1 and would have infringed if the claim had not been held invalid.

Dust off your dormant IP and reap the benefits of donating it to a non-profit organization. Not only can it bolster your bottom line; it can also foster R&D and academia, reports Ingrid Hering