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Ralph Cunningham, Hong Kong

While counterfeiting is still a scourge of international business, many governments have made progress in improving protection in the past year. James Nurton, Ingrid Hering and Ralph Cunningham reveal the leading firms in trade mark/copyright work in 30 markets across the world

You are getting a lot more than simply going to the patent office to do your search

Interview: Anne Chasser Ingrid Hering interviews Anne Chasser, Commissioner for Trademarks at the US Patent and Trademark Office. Formerly the director of Trademarks and Licensing Services at Ohio State University, she has also served as president of the International Trademark Association and is a founder of the Association of Collegiate Licensing Administrators.

Ingrid Hering reports

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

Ralph Cunningham, Hong Kong

Slovakia is expected to join the EPC on July 1 2002. For this reason 2001 saw a lot of work in the field of IP rights, including the adoption and amendment of a Patents Act and a new Trade Marks Act which came into force on January 1 2002. Details of this will be discussed in a later issue of MIP. Industrial designs, which up until now have been governed by Act No 527/90, will be the subject of a new independent Act. The respective Bill is already under discussion and is expected to be passed in the first half of 2002. It is worth stressing that all amendments to Slovak legislation in the field of IP rights are in compliance with the EPC and that Slovakia has taken all the necessary steps to be well prepared for access to the EPC.

Administrators of commercial companies in Colombia, whether national or foreign, must submit a report of performance to a general shareholders meeting. This must be done within the first three months of the fiscal year. Contained in the report must be a disclosure of the company's compliance with the provisions on IP and copyright.