The European Society of Human Genetics wants to ban the patenting of genes and DNA sequences but allow patents on genetic tests.

In the past two years 2.8 million European internet identities have been registered, making .eu, at its second birthday, the fourth most popular top level domain in Europe and the ninth worldwide.

The UK has launched a new free searchable database for published patents data, allowing users to search and download published patent information, on-line, free of charge.

There was an unprecedented number of cybersquatting cases in 2007, according to the latest statistics from the World Intellectual Property Organisation.

Small is beautiful: patent applications are continuing to rise, but the European Patent Office is pleased that the number it grants is falling.

A common format for filing patent applications to the European, Japanese and US patent offices will be introduced at the beginning of next year.

A record 39,945 international trademark applications were received in 2007 by the World Intellectual Property Organization, up 9.5 per cent on 2006.

After more than 30 years of failure there could be political agreement paving the way for a Community Patent by the end of the year.

A record 156,000 patents were filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty in 2007, up 4.7 per cent over the previous year.

Three decades of relative calm in the world of patents is coming to an end, says recently installed EPO head Alison Brimelow.