intellectual property

World Intellectual Property Organization: Database of WIPO Cases and WIPO Panel Decisions

A free database of internet domain name dispute cases, provided by the World Intellectual Property Organization's Arbitration and Mediation Center in Geneva. The Center offers alternative dispute resolution services in international commercial disputes between private parties. All the domain name cases back to 1999 are available in the database, searchable by domain name, key word, party names or case number. The full text of the decisions is available. The site also provides indexes of decisions by domain name category and by legal point, together with lists of the most-cited cases.

BitLaw

Online resource guide created by Daniel Tysver of the Minnesota-based law firm Beck & Tysver, which provides information on intellectual property and technology law. The site is divided into subject areas such as patent law, software patents, trademark law, copyright law and internet law. Each section has an executive summary followed by links to more in-depth coverage of the topic and specific pieces of legislation.

Ius Mentis

Dutch-language webgsite providing guidance on internet law and technology, by information and communications technology (ICT) lawyer Arnoud Engelfriet. The site is intended for lawyers and people working in the field of ICT. It covers patents, copyright, trademarks, database rights, information security, internet law, software and e-commerce. Many sections offer a 'crash course', introducing basic definitions as well as legal information.

esp@cenet

esp@cenet is a free gateway to a patents search engine which can find UK, European, US and Japanese patent applications using one single search form. The esp@cenet quick search option defaults to the Worldwide database where users can search by words in the title or abstract or persons or organisations. Users can also conduct searches by number, classification or a range of parameters using the advanced search option. If available, the original application along with a description of the invention and drawings are made freely available online.

Williams Powell

Willams Powell is a London-based firm of patent and trade mark attorneys. Their website gives a brief introduction to and definitions of patents, trade marks, design and copyright. General guidance is provided on filing a patent, writing a patent specification, patent searching and the likely costs involved. There is also advice on choosing and registering trade marks. Advice for overseas patent and trade mark attorneys is given on the site and brief guidance for people wishing to register patents or trade marks abroad.

Information Society Project

Website of the Information Society Project (ISP), a research project managed by the Yale Law School. The ISP is concerned with the "implications of the Internet and new information technologies for law and society, guided by the values of democracy, human development, and social justice". Research programmes look at digital education, law and genomics and intellectual property reform and innovation. Papers prepared by research staff can be downloaded in full-text PDF.

China Patent Agent (H.K.)

Firm of patent and trademark attorneys established in Hong Kong in 1984 as a quasi-government entity to provide legal services for overseas clients. The site provides Chinese patent laws (in English), treaties, case summaries, forms and FAQs. The site can be viewed in English, German, Japanese and Chinese, but the content is not all available in every language.

Information Law Institute (ILI)

Website of the New York Law School's Information Law Institute which focuses on law, technology and civil liberties. The site has details of courses, events and people involved with the Institute. There are also details of research projects being undertaken at the Institute such as the IProgress Project the aim of which is to improve "intellectual property law and policy through research initiatives focused on law and regulatory reform, software innovation, and legal education". Full text papers of the Institute can be downloaded in PDF.

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