May 2006

Intellectual property law changes may be afoot for the IT industry as the Ministry of Economic Development seeks input for policy recommendations. In our first article this month Claire Foggo, Karla Horstmans and Earl Gray of Simpson Grierson's intellectual property team outline the two key issues under discussion - contracting out of copyright law and the "Commisionary Rule". Submissions are currently being called for.

Karen Ngan and Simon Vannini of our information and communications technology group then provide an update on New Zealand's development of a formal Domain Name Disputes Service. An expert panel has now been appointed to determine these disputes.

Finally this month, biotech specialist Dr Anna Jellie and commercial partner Mike Sage report on recent intellectual property developments in China which provide for the compulsory licensing of certain patented pharmaceutical products.