ARGENTINA
April 17, 2015
The new guidelines published in 2012 keep on putting obstacles and limitations to the patentability of pharmaceutical products. These guidelines are subject to revision of the competent Courts.
AUSTRALIA
April 17, 2015
The Australian Patent Office announces that it is now in a position to withdraw its notification of incompatibility under Section 703(f) of the Administrative Instructions (in relation to filing requirements and the basic common standard as to the means of transmittal),
CAMBODIA
April 17, 2015
On 20 January 2015, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore and Cambodia's Ministry of Industry signed a Memorandum of Understanding according to which patent search and examination reports from IPOS will be recognized in Cambodia.
CHINA
April 17, 2015
Three specialized IP courts in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou have become operational in China. The new IP courts will serve as the court of first instance for, among others, (1) technically complex civil and administrative patents cases, technology secrets, computer software,
COSTA RICA
April 17, 2015
Until recently, the Patent Office was not enforcing the provision in Costa Rican Patent Law which set forth a deadline of three months as from the notification of favorable examination to pay the granting fees.
EUROPE
April 17, 2015
The Court of Justice of the European Union issued a resolution providing some clarification regarding the meaning of human embryo used in the Biotech Directive. It concludes that an organism which is incapable of developing into a human being does not constitute a human embryo within the meaning of the Biotech Directive. Formerly, the European Court of Justice (C 34/10) sustained that the concept of "human embryo" includes unfertilized human ova whose division and further development have been stimulated by parthenogenesis, based on the fact that such ova are capable of commencing the process of development into a human being.
INDIA
April 17, 2015
On January 1st, the Indian Patent Office released a notice announcing the enforcement of the amendments to the Indian rules on designs.
ISRAEL
April 17, 2015
The Israeli Patent Office has issued a Circular which aims at providing clarity with regards to the possibility of registering shapes of objects and containers either as trademarks and/or as designs.
JAPAN
April 17, 2015
As of 1 April 2015, Japanese IP laws were amended. Among other things, Patent Law will (1) adopt a post grant opposition system,
MOROCCO
April 17, 2015
Applicants of European patents filed as of 1 March 2015 have the option of requesting validation in Morocco, which would have the same effect as a national Moroccan patent and whose enforcement will be subject to Moroccan patent law.
EUROPE
April 17, 2015
In case C-577/13 the ECJ has resolved that when a basic patent claims a product comprising an active ingredient which is the sole-subject matter of the invention, it is not possible to obtain a second SPC conferring protection to a combination of that active ingredient and another substance which is not novel.
JAPAN
April 17, 2015
The Japan Patent Office withdraws certain notifications of incompatibility with its national law regarding the notification and effect on restoration of right of priority.
MEXICO
April 17, 2015
Since 9 February 2015, new guidelines apply in Mexico for the approval and renewal of Biologics.
NORWAY
April 17, 2015
On 26 September 2014, Norway joined the London Agreement. As a consequence, all European patents granted on or after 1 January 2015 will enjoy the provisions of the London Agreement pursuant to which a Norwegian translation of the specification will not be required as long as it is available in English (either because the patent has been granted in English or because an English translation has been provided).
SINGAPORE
April 17, 2015
The EPO and the IPO of Singapore signed an agreement to set forth a pilot program enabling an applicant whose claims have been determined to be patentable to have a corresponding application filed with a PPH partner office processed in an accelerated manner.
SAUDI ARABIA
April 17, 2015
As a consequence of the Saudi Patent Office becoming a Receiving Office, international applications may be filed at the using WIPO's ePCT filing system.
JAPAN
April 17, 2015
The United States of America and Japan have joined the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs, adding two of the world's biggest economies to a WIPO-administered registry that supports creators worldwide.
CAMBODIA
April 17, 2015
The Madrid Protocol will enter into force, with respect to Zimbabwe, on 11 March 2015 and to Cambodia on 5 June 2015. With regard to Cambodia, said instrument of accession was accompanied by a declaration whereby the time limit of one year to notify a provisional