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On the eve of its implementation in the national judicial systems (July 31 2000), European Directive 98/44/EC of July 6 1998 on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions has led to heated discussions in the Netherlands. Earlier, on October 19 1998, the Dutch government had already requested the ECJ to declare the directive invalid, but no judgment has been rendered with respect to this request yet. Not until June this year rather late was the actual implementation of the directive finally discussed in the Dutch parliament. During these discussions, it turned out that a majority of parliament objected to the implementation of the directive, largely because the directive would give room for the patenting of living organisms. This would be contrary to fundamental ethical choices made in the Netherlands.

Argentina A L 1 (1) Marval O'Farrell & Mairal Buenos Aires ? ? 2 (2) G Breuer Buenos Aires ? ? 3 (10) Moeller & Co Buenos Aires ? ? 4 (8) Hausheer Belgrano & Fernandez Buenos Aires ? ? 5 (5) Muchall Srl Buenos Aires ? ? 6 (9) Richelet & Richelet Buenos Aires ? ? 7 (-) Obligado & Cia Buenos Aires ? ? 8 (4) Sena & Berton Moreno Buenos Aires ? ? 9 (-) Allende & Brea Buenos Aires ? ? 10 (-) Barbat & Cia Buenos Aires ? ?

In an earlier issue of this magazine, we reported on the granting of Supplementary Protection Certificates, SPCs (June 1999, Issue 90, pages 49-50).

Pre-launch patent searches can be costly and time-consuming. Andrew Inglis and Michael Molineaux examine whether they are really necessary in the UK, and compare the situation with other jurisdictions

For two decades, Canada has lagged behind its major trading partners in patenting higher life forms. Steve Garland and Kathy Lipic explain how this situation has changed, following a landmark Federal Court decision

Czech Republic A L 1 (1) Patentservis Praha Prague ? ? 2 (-) Traplova Patent and Law Office Prague ? ? 3 (3) Cermak Horejs Vrba Prague ? ? 4 (5=) Rott Ruzicka & Gutman Prague ? ? 5 (2) Kania Sedlak Smola Prague ? ?

The Colombian Patent Office denied to grant a patent on an application filed by Pfizer Inc directed to a product known as "Viagra" , whose chemical name is pyrazolepyrimidone. The reason for this decision was that the application was trying to protect a new use of a known product. About the same time, the Peruvian Patent Office granted a patent to a corresponding patent application for the same subject matter.

With the sequencing of the human genome, the question of patenting genes has become front page news. To shed some light on the controversial topic, MIP assembled seven biotech specialists at Taylor Joynson Garrett's offices in London, with telephone and video-links to the US. The wide-ranging debate covered utility, ESTs, examination standards, the role of patents and ethical objections. Chuck Ludlam begins the discussion

At the conclusion of the Trilateral Technical Meeting Study, held in Tokyo in June, the Trilateral Offices ? the JPO, USPTO and EPO ? issued a Report on a Comparative Study Carried Out under Trilateral Project B3b with a "Consensus Summary ? Confirmed Current Practices on Business Method Related Inventions". The consensus on computer implemented business methods is:

The signing of the US-Vietnam trade agreement on July 13 has been met with more than a little scepticism by industry observers and local IP practitioners.