FOREWORD
“WHILE A UNITARY PATENT MIGHT SAVE PATENT OWNERS THE TIME AND INCONVENIENCE OF VALIDATING THEIR RIGHTS IN MULTIPLE TERRITORIES, ANY INVALIDATION WOULD IMMEDIATELY WIPE OUT PROTECTION ACROSS SEVERAL MARKETS.”
into its patent licensing programme—China is taking IP seriously.
In a country as vast and populous as China, it will inevitably take time for improvements to become widespread, but the country has a chance to push on and become an IP leader. Earlier this year, the government said it was seeking to triple the number of patent applications its IP office handles over the next five years. More than anything, China is sending out the right messages, although some IP owners in the West may still need convincing.
Tese are some of the subjects covered in this special edition of the Annual, although there isn’t room for their in-depth analysis. Te rest of the magazine contains contributions from leading IP associations, including the International Trademark Association and the Inter-American Association of Intellectual Property, as well as articles by law firms from India to the UK.
As usual, our Business Briefs are present, providing a quick update on the latest developments from across the world.
A lot has happened in ten years, and who knows what the next decade will bring. No doubt the rise of social media will continue to have implications (good and bad) for IP owners, while 3D printing
is likely to provide one of the greatest challenges to virtually all forms of IP.
It’s fair to say that IP features more prominently in the public’s consciousness than it did ten years ago, but their understanding of it is sorely missing at times.
One of the biggest IP changes on the horizon is surely the introduction of the unitary patent and Unified Patent Court in Europe. In theory, the regime should make it easier for patent owners to simultaneously obtain protection across more than 20 countries.
In practice, however, its success will be
determined by the renewal fees (two models for which have been proposed but which are not final) and business strategies. Aſter all, while a unitary patent might save patent owners the time and inconvenience of validating their rights in multiple territories, any invalidation would immediately wipe out protection across several markets, leaving patentees vulnerable. Until the system is finally approved, watch this space.
We hope you enjoy this special anniversary of the Annual, and we welcome your feedback.
Ed Conlon, Group editor
6 World Intellectual Property Review Annual 2015
www.worldipreview.com
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