In South and Southeast Asia there is a growing awareness of patent rights and parties are now more willing to litigate to protect their patents in this huge and growing market. In Southeast Asia there is a lack of homegrown jurisprudence particularly as the various countries share various colonial legacies in terms of their legal […]
News
Access to sites slashed in clearout on Internet scams in Malaysia
Malaysian government authorities have recently embarked on a series of crackdowns on cyber scams, blocking access to six illegal investment websites and raiding the offices of an Internet firm in Kuala Lumpur, the nation's capital. The local daily STAR recently reported that the Securities Commission (SC) had identified six websites under close scrutiny: www.abbfund.com or […]
Singapore goes tough on unauthorized wireless net access
A 17-year-old juvenile recently caused a stir in Singapore when he became the first "recipient" to flout with the local cyber law legislation. He was charged with piggybacking on someone else's wireless Internet connection. The "recipient" was accused of utilizing as laptop computer to gain unauthorized access to a home wireless network If the juvenile […]
A brief update on compulsory licensing and infectious diseases in ASEAN
Compulsory licensing has been a point of great dispute, with opinions torn between the rights of patent owners and accessibility to lifesaving, affordable drugs to the general public. The high cost of patent-protected pharmaceuticals and the inherent prevalence of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and avian influenza are fueling demand for generic drugs and […]
Landmark Decision On Well Known Mark In Singapore
Trademarks serve to distinguish between the goods or services of competing organisations. The Paris Convention was the first agreement to address well-known marks. The extension of protection in cases of lack of use or registration was seen as a significant departure from traditional trademark law and this right was generally accorded to a very select […]
India - The Eye-Test for Novelty of Designs
In a recent appeal case, Gopal Glass Works Ltd v AC of Patents & Designs Ors 2006 (33) PTC 434 (cal), Kolkata High Court examined the grounds for cancelling a registered design. According to Section 19 of the Indian Designs Act (amended) 2000, "prior publication" anywhere in the world and prior registration in India are […]
US-Indian IP Pact Boosts Cooperation
Bilateral trade between India and the US has increased exponentially over the past two decades, and gathered a full head of steam last year. In March 2006, US president Bush visited India for a meeting with prime minister Manmohan Singh on increased global partnership between the two nations. This was well received and very successful. […]
India - Are We TRIPs Compliant Yet?
In last five years, the Indian parliament has amended the patent law twice. Despite the government's efforts to make the patent law compliant with the TRIPs Agreement, the international community's qualms about India's patent law remains unchanged. The debate on TRIPs compliance is heating up again since the publication of a report on various patent […]
India - A Case Study on Copyright
In Radio Today Broadcasting Ltd v Indian Performing Rights Society 2007 (34) PTC 174 (Cal), Radio Today Broadcasting, the petitioners, plan to run a radio station through the FM band with the name Radio Today. They applied for a licence from the central government and also secured a provisional licence. The petitioners' intent is to […]
India Patent Office Boost International Cooperation
Today, the Indian patent office is a 'live' organization. It has been growing, adapting and now, socializing with its peers. Until late 90's, the same office was a dormant and low profile organization working quietly under the Department of Commerce. But, since the dawn of this century the patent office is emerging as an active […]