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A new international standard for brand valuation is set to lead to more consistent and transparent valuations

Omega SA v Costco. Granted certiorari by the Supreme Court

The US Supreme Court upheld on Monday that the Copyright Act could not be used to apply the first sale doctrine to goods manufactured overseas, after it declined to issue an opinion on Costco v Omega

EU members this week backed efforts to agree a single patent and court system by the end of this year

Shortlists for awards to be presented in London on April 6 to firms of the year in Europe, Middle East and Africa

On December 15 2010 the Swiss discounter Denner commenced the sale of capsules containing ground coffee with a similar appearance to Société des Produits Nestlé's Nespresso-branded capsules. Denner advertised its capsules as being compatible with Nespresso coffee machines, and used the advertising slogans "Denner – was suscht?" ("– quoi d'autre?"; "– cosa sennò?"), these expressions being Swiss-German, French and Italian translations of the English phrase "what else?"

A decision of the first instance Court of Commerce of the Canton of Zurich had held that the Swiss part of European patent 1 175 904 claiming a dosage regime in the form of a Swiss-type claim ("Use of alendronate in the manufacture of a medicament for treating osteoporosis in a human in need of such treatment, where said medicament is orally administered to said human as a unit dosage comprising about 70mg of the alendronate compound, on an alendronic acid active weight basis, according to a continuous schedule having a once-weekly dosing interval") was not valid as being directed to non-patentable subject matter in view of Article 2 (2a) of the Swiss Patent Act and Article 52(4) EPC 1973.

Companies outside Europe could be forgiven for thinking that trademark law around the EU is relatively harmonized, given the EU-level directives and Community trade mark system. Attendees at the Regional Update session on Europe yesterday were reminded, however, that that is not the case with unregistered marks.

Inventors of LCDs, USB, nanotechnology, pyrosequencing, furniture doors and train wheels were recognised at the EPO European Inventor Award 2013 held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands this week.

Protecting IP rights in the MENA region is a challenging process, which requires special consideration and handling. However, with soaring growth, it is not a market that rights holders can afford to ignore. They must be fully aware of the IP framework and the most important developments that unfolded over the past year.