Genomics is turbo-charging traditional plant and animal breeding. But can new varieties get patent protection, ask Nicholas Jones and Rachel Wallis of Withers & Rogers LLP.

The World Intellectual property Organisation has launched WIPO GOLD, a free, on-line global intellectual property reference resource.

MIT and South Africa’s Technology Innovation Agency are to join the Pool for Open Innovation against Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Human genes are patentable, says the English Court of Appeal, but only if the patent describes a practical way that the gene or protein can be exploited.

The five largest intellectual property offices have agreed to move ahead on ten Foundation Projects, to provide a framework to support work-sharing.

International trademark filings under the WIPO’s Madrid System dropped by 16 per cent in 2009 as a result of the global economic downturn.

International patent filings under the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s Patent Cooperation Treaty fell by 4.5 per cent in 2009.

Leading names in science and ethics are calling for a rethink in attitudes to the commercialisation of scientific knowledge.