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Design protection in Singapore is based on the 1949 UK law. But, say Drew & Napier, a recent case reveals important differences in application of the law

We all know that obtaining patent protection internationally requires considerable funds, the average probably being $ 5,000 per country. For an individual inventor this can be a lot of money. However, it can also tighten a company´ s budget since companies generally have to seek patent protection for more than one product. It has thus become standard practice to base the decision for international filings on an early examination report which may be obtained in the country of first filing. It has further become good practice to file an international (PCT) application before the end of one year after the first national filing, thereby claiming convention priority, instead of going directly national at the end of the priority year. If the applicant asks for an international preliminary examination (IPE), there will be a further indication about the chances of obtaining national patents prior to converting the international application into national original applications.

In a final report on March 17, the WTO has given its ruling on claims brought by the EU against Canada's patent regime.

Recently, as part of the national drive towards becoming a regional IT and e-learning hub, a research and education centre at the National University of Singapore known as the Institute of Systems Science (ISS) launched what it claims to be the world´ s first virtual institute. The ISS took about one and a half years to develop the necessary software. It is intended that the virtual institute will serve, among other things, to re-train graduates for the growing infocomm industry. Plans are also being made to offer courses to local students and to provide courses in languages other than English for students in other countries in the region.

The new Woolf rules on litigation in the UK emphasize pre-action negotiations. Gerard Cronin, of Llewelyn Zietman in London, examines the tension this has created with the Brussels and Lugano Conventions

Remco EP de Ranitz and Michiel Rijsdijk of Arnold & Siedsma in The Hague, provide an overview of the latest developments in patent litigation in the Netherlands

Helen Papaconstantinou, of Dr Helen Papaconstantinou and Associates in Athens, explains how to make the most of licensing opportunities in Greece

You may not put the European Patent Office top of the list when applying for e-commerce patents. Think again. Johannes Lang of BardehleoPagenberg reveals that protection is just as powerful as in the US, and in some cases even broader

In today’s fast-moving markets, successful new products and services are the key to success. And securing patents is an essential element of product and process development. But how do you avoid patent infringement? Are you wasting valuable research funds on products already protected by patents? Could you be missing out on lucrative licensing opportunities?

From Davidoff to Samara Brothers, it has been an interesting year in the trade mark courts. James Nurton reports on 10 cases that raised important questions during 1999