The Manual IP has been a cornerstone resource for intellectual property (IP) professionals for almost a century. The publication has undergone a significant redesign to enhance its user experience, making it more accessible and efficient for patent and trademark attorneys, in-house counsel, and other IP practitioners. It is essential to recognize the collaborative efforts involved in maintaining its accuracy and relevance. The process includes regular updates to reflect changes in laws and practices globally.
This article will explore everything it takes to keep Manual IP current, from the contributions of its dedicated authors to the systematic approach required for updating its numerous chapters. We spoke to 3 of our local experts, who update the Manual IP each year, to ensure that the content remains relevant and authoritative, reflecting the latest developments in IP law.
The Authors
Bolotov & Partners LLP is a boutique IP law firm operating in Kazakhstan and Central Asia since 1994, with core values being a client-first approach, reliability, exceeding expectations, and teamwork. Saule Kulzhambekova is updating four chapters in the Manual IP: Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
Richelet & Richelet is one of the oldest and largest law firms specialized in the protection of Intellectual Property in Argentina and a long-standing part for the Manual IP. For over 15 years Ricardo Richelet III and Gastón Richelet have been making sure the Argentina chapter includes the latest relevant information.
A recent newcomer to the Manual IP family is Boult Wade Tennant LLP, one of the leading European IP firms with an unparalleled ability to apply expert strategic and commercial thinking to any IP problem. Sarah Le Mesurier and James Short took on the countries Falkland Islands, Guernsey, Isle of Man, and Jersey.
Interesting yet daunting
With over 240 jurisdictions, there is a lot of work and effort put into keeping the Manual IP up to date. Saule says, “It requires deep research, a good understanding of legal changes, and the ability to present information in a clear and accessible manner.” Each chapter covers the same topics, making it easy for the reader to compare jurisdictions one on one.
Gastón notes, “We find this exercise to be very productive. As we have been doing this for many years, we have grown used to receiving the texts for update and working on them. While during the first years this task felt a little bit daunting since it implied summarizing all IP Laws so that a foreign IP expert can understand them, it has now become easier, and we enjoy it a lot.” Saule concurs with this, “Working on the Manual IP is both interesting and challenging. It is a chance to help create a useful guide for professionals dealing with complex IP laws.”
The information helps a lot of readers with prosecution of IP Rights, and sometimes even the experts contributing to the Manual IP. Sarah, “The Manual IP is a renowned book I use regularly in my day-to-day practice and so it was a real honour to be asked to contribute to this publication. It was really rewarding to contribute to such an important resource that I know is used by IP professionals around the world.” Being a contributor also helps with your knowledge “As IP practitioners, we are provided with the opportunity of making a review on an annual basis of what the Law and practices are in the different areas of IP such as trademarks, designs and patents.”, says Gastón.
From day-to-day work to paper
All our local experts have a broad knowledge of the requirements in their jurisdictions as they deal with this every day for their clients. Everyone working in the industry knows that sometimes the regulations are not as clearly defined, and you must rely on the information that you have. Putting the information on paper can be challenging, as noted by Gastón, “The hardest challenge has always been trying not to leave anything of relevance out.”
Saule has a similar experience, “The biggest challenge is keeping up with legislative amendments. Ensuring that the information remains accurate and relevant requires monitoring of both domestic and international legal landscapes.” Luckily doing so is not too hard, he continues, “Matching practice from real cases and legal work. Since we handle intellectual property daily, we can share real examples and useful advice, making the updates more relevant for professionals.”
Some chapters require more attention, when for instance new laws are introduced or other important developments. Sarah says, “There were a number of changes over the last few years to account for the impact of Brexit on trademarks and designs that were not yet reflected in the chapters. For some countries, like the Isle of Man, we needed to analyse the legislation and correspond with the local government to determine that it is not possible to get trademark protection in the Isle of Man via an EUTM (via Isle of Man Law or the UK Trademark Act as applied to the Isle of Man) or design protection in the Isle of Man via a Community Registered Design. The chapter on the Isle of Man also needed updating regarding the Hague agreement. We also dug through the legislation and corresponded with local government to clarify matters that were previously identified as being unknown in these jurisdictions, such as, for example, whether Community Registered Designs are recognised in Jersey.”
Gastón says, “We do revise the chapter thoroughly and we do our best to include any new information that might of use to the reader.”
Making updating easy
As publisher, Kluwer Law International works together with editors from the Netherlands and New Zealand to make sure the information throughout all the chapters is consistent and includes all necessary information. To make sure the contributors only have to spend time on the texts, there are a lot or processes and guidelines in place.
“We find the whole process to be very straightforward because we are provided with very good guidance from the publishers.”, Gastón continues, “Also, the tools used are very good. Since sometimes revising the chapter can take some time, the fact that you can work on one section, save the changes, and then come back is great.”
Sarah agrees with the fact the updating is made very easy, “The format of the Manual IP is very clear and logical making it easy to understand exactly what information needs to be included in each chapter.”
Some useful advices
Saule shares some advice for people working with International IP Rights from the perspective of the Kazakhstan and Central Asia but is good advice for each jurisdiction.
- Understand local nuances – While Kazakhstan and Central Asia follow international IP frameworks, local enforcement practices may differ. It’s essential to be aware of regional specifics.
- Be proactive in enforcement – IP rights are only as strong as their enforcement. Monitoring for potential infringements and taking early action can prevent larger issues.
- Work with experts – IP laws in Kazakhstan and Central Asia are changing, so having experienced legal support makes registration and protection easier.
Gastón follows with, “Stay updated as to the changes in practice. While there are several issues in our IP Laws that need to be enhanced and improved, in general the system is working quite well.”
Sarah follows up with some specific advice, “Readers should keep an eye out for updates to Jersey’s trademark legislation. In 2023, the Jersey government launched a consultation proposing the introduction of a primary trademark registration system to replace their current re-registration system. Given the positive feedback on the proposal, it seems that Jersey may follow in Guernsey’s footsteps and introduce such a primary trademark registration system.”
Invaluable Resource
All of the experts have the same sentiment when it comes to IP and the Manual IP. James says, “We consider the Manual IP to be an invaluable resource.” Saule notes, “IP field is always changing, so keeping up to date is important for protecting innovations and brands. Having a clear IP strategy can bring long-term benefits both for big companies or new start-ups. We encourage businesses to follow the latest developments, get expert advice when needed, and look at intellectual property as a valuable asset for future success.”
Gastón ends with a final thought, “Just a thank you to the publishers, the whole team at Kluwer and our colleagues at Arnold & Siedsma for allowing us to be part of this great project.”
All and all, it takes a village to make sure the Manual IP is the most comprehensive and detailed resource for IP professionals.
Reach out
More information on the Manual IP and what it could do for your company can be found here
If you would like to reach out to these local experts, please contact them via
Bolotov & Partners LLP – info@BolotovIP.com
Boult Wade Tennant LLP – boult@boult.com
Richelet & Richelet – info@richelet.com.ar
Our editors, Martin Luten of Arnold & Siedsma and Alan Potter, make sure that the information throughout the Manual IP is consistent and complete.
Martin Luten – ipmanual@arnold-siedsma.nl
Alan Potter – alan@everydog.co.nz
Interested in becoming a contributor, please click here for more information!
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