In September 2020 the UK signed its first major free trade deal as an independent country outside the EU, with Japan. This deal is viewed by the UK government as the first step in joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a free trade agreement between Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. Further, Joe Biden’s presidency is expected to result in the United States joining the partnership and, with the US and the UK, the CPTPP would be the largest free trade bloc by GDP in the world.

Where there is close trade between countries regulated by a free trade agreement, there is also the need for rigorous intellectual property, in particular patent protection, especially in the pharmaceutical, biotech and telecoms sectors.

Companies need to know:

* that their technology will be protected;

* the scope of that protection; and

* how it can be enforced.

In particular, this book will provide readers with a structured account of the relevant enforcement procedures and substantive patent law in each country, enabling a quick compare and contrast to be made between countries and the identification of relevant issues. In-depth country chapters featured include: US, Japan, South Korea, UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore and New Zealand.

Patent Enforcement in the UK and Trans-Pacific Countries is an essential guide for private practitioners, in-house lawyers and other professionals with responsibility for intellectual property who are interested in the Trans-Pacific region.