Venturing into Foreign Countries with your own brand of products or services
The process of starting or conducting business in a foreign land is hardly an easy task, especially if a company intends to build and spread its brand in that particular country. There are many aspects that the company or enterprise should consider, from operating costs to the local practices and even the languages of the […]
Another Day, Another Patent Litigation…
In a recent case at the IP Court in Kuala Lumpur, the Court held that Ecotherm (TFT) Sdn Bhd’s Malaysian Patent No. MY-121188-A was valid but at the same time held that the parties sued by Ecotherm in this case were not infringing the said patent. The patent infringement action in question relates to the […]
China Updates It’s Law On Patenting Of Inventions Using Genetic Resources
With the growth of research in the biotechnology field in many countries, the issue of using genetic resources of one country to develop new pharmaceutical drugs or chemical compounds and commercializing such products is of concern to many countries, especially those with large biodiversity resources. China is seeing an increasing number of patent applications involving […]
Promoting Biosafety For A Sustainable Biodiversity
Modifications to the genetic material of an organism are generally targeted to improve or develop the characteristics found in these organisms. While this can potentially benefit humankind, researchers and society at large are concerned about the unknown effects of introducing these living modified organisms (LMOs) into the environment. LMOs are genetically modified (GM) organisms which […]
Lights, Camera, IP Protection!
Celebrities are famed for their very name and personality – in many instances becoming brands in themselves – making it all the more crucial to protect their names, as well as the names they use as trademarks. Being public figures, they are usually sought after for endorsements, and their lavish livelihood is often more dependent […]
Ban On Stem Cell Patenting – Big Mistake In The Making?
Malaysia, being one of the fast developing countries, has been showing keen interest in stem cell research and therapy. As the awareness in stem cell technology increases, issues like morals and ethics have been raised by various parties such as religious bodies and conservative organizations. These controversies do not only occur in Malaysia but also […]
Exploring Local Biodiversity Resources
It is often claimed that Malaysia is rich in biodiversity resources, that we have the world’s oldest rainforests, that our rainforest is pristine and virgin, untouched commercially by the human hand. But are we taking advantage of this biodiversity asset to serve the needs of the country or the global community? Do we have the technical […]
Are Trademark Searches Worthwhile?
In this globalised world we live in today, finding a brand name that is apt for one’s product and services is a challenge each business faces. With a borderless market provided by the ease of communication and transportation, businesses need to consider the availability of the mark not only in their local market, but also […]
Reasons You Should Avoid Using Descriptive And Generic Marks
Owning a registered trademark gives the owner exclusive rights to do the following: use the mark on its goods and services; and exclude others from using the same or very similar mark on same or related goods and services. However, this monopoly of rights is given – by Trademark Offices worldwide – only to owners […]
What to Do When Your Patent Application Is Refused
What do you do if your intellectual property patents application are refused or objected to or has received an adverse report from the Patent Office? Does it mean the end of your patent application? The patent applicant must know what happens at the Patent Office and what to do upon receiving the examination report.