Recent books

The second edition of Trevor Cook's extremely useful A Users Guide to Patents was recently published by Tottel (publishers' details available here). The IPKat has long admired its author, who must get by on even less sleep than he does, since when it comes to any literature on the subject of patents Trevor is an absolute omnivore -- but not an omnibore! His opinions, created from a potent combination of deep understanding, long experience and empirical insights, are always valued.

What the publisher says:

"Part of the popular User's Guide series, this unique [it's not unique, says Merpel: I've seen several copies and they're identical to one another] and accessible book focuses on the areas of patent law and procedure which prove to have the most practical importance in day-to-day practice. The second edition of Trevor Cook’s highly regarded User’s Guide to Patents has been fully updated with all the latest developments in patent law in the UK and the rest of Europe.

This title focuses on all the areas of patent law and procedure which prove to be the most important in day-to-day practice. It addresses some of the wider public policy aspects of patents and their economic significance, as well as past and likely future trends in the field, both in Europe and the USA".

Bibliographic details: ISBN 978 1 84592 276 4; paperback, £84. Rupture factor: zero.



Extending Rewards for Innovative Drug Development - A Report on Supplementary Certificates for Pharmaceutical Products is the latest report to be published by the Intellectual Property Institute. Its author is Duncan Curley, whose book on the technology transfer block exemption was reviewed by this Kat back in June 2005 when the author was still at McDermott Will & Emery.

What the publisher says:

"This report contains an analysis of the impact of Supplementary Protection Certificates for medicinal products since their introduction in 1993. In particular, it assesses whether SPCs are still "fit for purpose" for the modern pharmaceutical industry. The Report contains a discussion of the aims of the SPC regime for medicinal products. Some of the significant cases for the drug development industry are placed in context, including the recent MIT/Gliadel and Yissum decisions and there is an overview of the new six month paediatric extensions for SPCs. The Report concludes with an assessment of the effect of SPCs on incentives to invest in pharmaceutical R&D".

Bibliographic details: ISBN 1 874001 94 4. Paperback, A4 format. Rupture factor slim.



The second edition of Multinational Enterprises and the Law, by Peter T. Muchlinski, has now been published by Oxford University Press (online details here). This is a worthy addition to the OUP Oxford International Law Library. The author is no mean scholar, being Professor of International Commercial Law at the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. He also has hands-on experience in this field. A barrister, he acts as a principal adviser to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on investment law issues and in 2006-7 was a Special Adviser to the International Commission of Jurists Expert Legal Panel on Corporate Complicity in International Crime. He also did a tour of duty in Geneva as a Senior Legal Expert in the Division on Investment Technology and Enterprise Development.

What the publisher says:

"Multinational Enterprises and the Law represents the only comprehensive contemporary and interdisciplinary account of the various techniques used to regulate multinational enterprises (MNEs) at the national, regional and multilateral levels. In it, Peter Muchlinksi analyses the major regulatory areas relating to multinational enterprises and covers the main economic law issues relating to jurisdiction, entry and establishment controls and liberalization, tax, company law, competition and technology transfer. The book also deals with the increasingly prominent demands for corporate social responsibility covering labor, rights, human rights and the environment, and the recent developments in arbitral decisions that give increased importance to the protection standards contained in international investment protection agreements".

Bibliographic details: ISBNs 13 9780199282562 and 10 0199282560. Hardback, 720 pages. Price $180. Rupture factor: low to medium.