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Emma Barraclough, Hong Kong and Sam Mamudi, New York

For many years the English patents judges have striven to reduce costs and time to trial in patent cases. The streamlined procedure introduced in 2003 is the latest such move. It is proving a great success. Although the procedure was primarily intended for use in smaller patent cases, the flexibility afforded to judges in the way that they can manage cases has influenced the conduct of all patent litigation. Actions are now coming to trial in shorter periods of time (nine months to trial is not uncommon), and trials are shorter in duration. Two recent cases may be seen as indicators of the increasing use of the procedure, and a further shift toward more flexible and efficient patent litigation.

On August 15 2005, the Beijing Second Intermediate People's Court granted a pre-action injunction in favour of a plaintiff whose name translates as Beijing Red Lion Paints Co Ltd. The injunction was granted against the defendant, whose name translates as Beijing Red Lion Jing Paints Trading Co Ltd. This is the first time a Beijing court has granted such an injunction since the revised Patents Law 2000, Trade Mark Law 2001 and Copyright Law 2001 were enacted.

Indian politicians are discussing whether to make another amendment to the country's patent rules. On June 20 2005, the government notified the Patents (Second Amendment) Rules, 2005. It was widely expected that the draft Rules would reverse the exorbitant hike in the filing fee introduced in a previous amendment to the Rules.

Companies working in the field of biotechnology could face limited protection for their inventions following the introduction of a revised patent law in Germany. Harald von Campenhausen outlines the pitfalls and how rights owners can best avoid them

US litigation is expensive and time-consuming, while USPTO reexamination provides limited involvement and grounds of attack for challengers. John Isacson explores proposed new legislation that promises to offer greater opportunities to patent challengers in the USPTO

As Iraq continues to grapple with the difficult task of rebuilding amid a declining security situation, a reconstruction of a different kind has taken place in the IP field. Stéphanie Bodoni explores the struggle to provide patent and trade mark protection

Pharmaceutical patents are at the forefront of litigation in Canada. Andrew Bernstein and Grant Worden of Torys LLP in Toronto explain why, and consider proposed changes to rules on generic drugs

The US Supreme Court this years handed down rulings in two of the most anticipated IP cases of recent years. Sam Mamudi analyzes what the judgments mean for rights owners

The United Arab Emirates recently signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with the United States. The purpose of the agreement is to develop ways for both countries to expand their bilateral trade and investment relationship. The value of trade between the US and the UAE was reported to be in the vicinity of $4.6 billion in the year 2003 and with an open market and a large economy, the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) should bring more investment into the country and this figure could grow exponentially. A good example of how much open markets can do is the success that the various free zones established in the UAE have had. The FTA will also enhance the technology base here. But what does this mean for companies coming into the UAE?