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On April 1 2005, the Singapore authorities amended the patent rules. The amendment was intended to clarify the deadlines for the various search and examination options for patent applications filed in Singapore. The search and examination options include traditional substantive examination as well as reliance on prescribed information from a corresponding foreign patent.

The British Horseracing Board (BHB) has received a welcome endorsement of its overseas data supply contracts in recent proceedings taken against it by Irish bookmakers. The proceedings went to trial in the second week of November in the Irish Commercial Court before Justice Kelly. The group of independent Irish bookmakers representing 357 bookmaking shops were seeking repayment of about €20m that had been paid by them under a contract for the supply of elements of the BHB's pre race data. A settlement was reached on day two of the trial that involved the repayment claim being dropped in its entirety, and an affirmation by the bookmakers of the contracts under which the data had been supplied to them since 2002.

Recently the Benelux Trademarks Office (BTO) announced that as from January 1 2006 the opposition procedure will be open for all classes. This means that oppositions can be filed against all applications filed on or after January 1 2006.

An increasing number of foreign companies are expanding in China by way of local mergers and acquisitions. In the first of a two-part guide, Catherine Sun explains what overseas IP counsel need to know to ensure they get the best deal for their client

Recently released guidelines for USPTO examiners should help to clarify what is patentable in the murky area of business methods. John L Dauer, Jr explains what the change in policy will mean

Many Asian jurisdictions have adopted dispute resolution policies modelled on ICANN's UDRP. But understanding key differences between national and international practices could mean the difference between success and failure in the battle against cybersquatters. Jennifer Lam and Gabriela Kennedy explain what you need to know in China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan

A monthly column devoted to IP curiosities and controversies, named in honour of John of Utynam - who received the world's first recorded patent in 1449

The internet has changed the way we do business. We size up our holiday options in our lunch breaks, select our Christmas gifts online without moving from our seats and communicate with friends and associates by e-mail to plan weekend events and corporate deals. Ours is a digital age, and today's business must harness the capabilities of the internet if it is to succeed in both global and local markets. IP practices are no exception, but while IP firms have not been slow to follow the digital trends in terms of marketing their services, the same cannot always be said for the software they use to support their work.

1. D. The new IP High Court replaced the IP division of the Tokyo High Court in April, and handed down its first ruling on September 30.

US: The control of the international domain name system will remain in the hands of ICANN, a summit of world leaders decided on November 15. Delegates from more than 100 countries meeting at the World Summit on the Information Society also agreed to set up an Internet Governance Forum, which would be run by international governments, NGOs and businesses, to raise internet management issues.