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In the second part of the eighth annual World IP Survey, MIP reveals the top-ranked firms for trade mark/copyright work in 25 jurisdictions in Europe, Asia and North America. Below, we explain how the results were compiled

Pre-trial injunctions offer an alternative to administrative actions and the Civil Procedure Law in IP litigation in China. To benefit properly from them, however, you should follow procedures carefully, warns Matthew Murphy

Asia-Pacific governments have formally committed themselves to the effective regulation of optical disc production in a bid to minimize piracy.

Ralph Cunningham, Hong Kong

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

Valery Medvedev explains how recent amendments to Russia's trade mark law will benefit rights owners and, opposite, examines the implications of the new Patent Law

Ingrid Hering, London

A rather progressive provision regulating the protection and exercise of trade mark rights has been established with respect to well-known marks. The Ukrainian Trade Mark Law has been supplemented by Article 25 named "Protection of Rights in Well-Known Marks". Article 25 of the law refers to Article 6bis of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. It establishes that it is possible to take a decision of the Chamber of Appeal of the State Department of Intellectual Property of Ukraine or a court decision as the basis for acknowledging a mark to be well-known. Thus, the Trade Mark Law finally details a list of bodies whose competence covers acknowledging a mark to be well-known. In addition, Item 2 of Article 25 establishes factors that might be taken into consideration when acknowledging a mark to be well-known.

This year's changes to prior art disclosure requirements in Australia ease the burden on patent applicants. But, warns Mark Roberts, applicants still need to examine carefully what and how much they submit

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".