Innovation Focus: Changes in Vietnam’s IP Landscape
With the increase in registered capital requirements, tax rise and the tightening of labor and environmental laws in China, many factories are now making the move to Vietnam. The growth of manufacturing companies in Vietnam, in turn, results in a higher need for intellectual property (IP) protection there.The Vietnamese Government is aware of this change […]
Thai Courts Shed Light on Descriptive vs Suggestive Trademarks
The Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court in Thailand recently decided in favour of an Indian corporation, Colorplus Fashions, on the registrability of their trademark “COLORPLUS”. The Applicant had previously applied for the registration of the mark “COLORPLUS” in Class 25 in Thailand, claiming apparel products. The word “COLORPLUS” in itself may not have […]
MINDS – Year 2010 Innovation Training Programs
The Malaysian Invention and Design Society (MINDS) recently established the MINDS Institute of Invention and Innovation (MI3). MI3 intends to focus on Education (training & development) and Commercialization of Inventions (intellectual property services, financing) among MINDS members, schools, universities, the public and private sectors, as well as the community at large. For details on what MI3 has […]
India Patent Update: Sequence Listing Mandatory for Patent Specifications
The Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks of the Indian Patent Office recently issued a notice informing patent applicants that filing a hardcopy of the sequence listing is mandatory as it forms a part of the patent specification. A softcopy of the sequence listing is also required to facilitate search as required under Rule […]
Plavix Patent Invalidated in Korea
On 15 October 2009, the Supreme Court of Korea dismissed the appeal in the ‘(patent) registration invalidation’ trial that SANOFI-AVENTIS filed against 16 Korean generic drug companies. The Supreme Court ruled that “the original trial decision stating that ‘the novelty and inventive steps (of the original product) are denied’ is fair and has no misunderstanding […]
Beware of Unsolicited Letters and E-Mails
Recently, new scams which cheat unsuspecting trademark applicants out of large sums of money have mushroomed in a big way. Some of our clients have reported receiving unsolicited letters and e-mails from third parties. These letters seem legal and proper, appearing with seals and official sounding names such as “TM Collection Edition 2010 – International […]
Singapore Trademark Update: Navelbine Vs Vinelbine
In an opposition decision that was published in December 2009, the IP Office of Singapore (IPOS) disallowed the registration of the mark VINELBINE in the country. Pierre Fabre Medicament, the owner of the mark NAVELBINE opposed the application for the mark VINELBINE by Dabur Pharma Ltd. The application was opposed on a number of grounds, […]
To Cross or Not to Cross
In today’s hugely competitive technology market, there is bound to be many instances where one company knowingly or unintentionally uses a patented technology without the consent of the patent owner. In a recent sparring match between two major players in the mobile phone manufacturing industry, Nokia Corp (“Nokia”) threw the first blow in October when […]
Thai Patent Update: Optional Features Cannot Accord Novelty
In a recent patent revocation case in Thailand, the Thai Supreme Court has upheld the decision of the Thai IP Court to revoke Thai Patent No. 8912 entitled “Herb Ingredient from Pueraria Candollei” for lack of novelty and an inventive step in view of a document which was published in 1931. Pueraria Candollei is a herb found […]
Singapore High Court Orders Details of Illegal Downloaders to be Dilvulged
In a recent copyright infringement case in Singapore, the High Court has ordered a local Network Service Provider (NSP) to furnish Japanese Anime copyright owners with the Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of the NSP’s subscribers who had illegally downloaded Anime titles. Anime refers to a distinct type of cartoon animation originating from Japan. The facts […]