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Owners of design rights have any number of laws to rely on when protecting their products in China. But too much uncertainty surrounds the best legal option to take. The authorities must make protection easier, argues Jan De Visser

Thanks to a new directive, artists across Europe will receive royalties on future sales of their works – many for the first time. George Moore and Matthew Warren explain how the royalty structure will work

A recent judgment in the US found that unlicensed linking and framing constitutes copyright infringement. All website operators should take note, explains Lawrence R Robins

In April and May 2000, the Mexican Federal Administrative Proceedings Law was amended on a supplementary basis. The changes meant that standards for the administrative proceedings of the law became applicable to all actions filed before the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (the IMPI). These included trade mark registration, granting of patents, nullity and infringement actions.

Politicians have shown a welcome appetite for upgrading trade mark and copyright legislation. Changes may be required to reach international standards, but they also have a critical impact on a country’s prosperity, writes Ralph Cunningham

While counterfeiting is still a scourge of international business, many governments have made progress in improving protection in the past year. James Nurton, Ingrid Hering and Ralph Cunningham reveal the leading firms in trade mark/copyright work in 30 markets across the world

Venezuela’s Congress is debating fundamental IP reforms. But, warns Gabriela Nuñez, there are a lot of obstacles which must be overcome before protection can improve

? China: Sohu.com has responded to a copyright infringement suit from Sina.com, its mainland rival, by counter-suing for copyright infringement and unfair competition. The cases concern the use of cellphone screen designs.

Among several amendments to the Patent Act that came into force on January 1 2002 in Germany, there are two changes affecting patent opposition proceedings. First, an opposition fee of €200 ($174) has been introduced. Secondly, there is a temporary change regarding the responsibility for deciding on oppositions.

A trademark owner in the Netherlands has the right to lodge an application, in writing, with the the customs authorities requiring them to keep a watch for counterfeit goods. This is on the basis of EU regulation 3295/94 (December 22 1994) and EU regulation 1367/95 (June 16 1995) which both came into force in the Netherlands on July 1 1997. On the basis of this application, customs authorities are allowed to detain or to suspend the release of a suspicious consignment for a brief period, during which the trademark holder can initiate legal measures.