Earlier this year, the University of New Hampshire School of Law Library received the distinction of being named to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's roster of Patent and Trademark Resource Centers (PTRCs). This week, the facility officially opened for business and will begin advising local citizens on how best to manage their intellectual assets.

Securing intellectual property protections in foreign markets is becoming increasingly important - and lucrative - in this globalized economy. But to ensure companies and sole inventors are going about the process in the most cost-efficient manner possible, a strong understanding of the filing framework is essential.

With self-reliance and ingenuity so often associated with the entrepreneurial spirit, it is not surprising to see sole inventors going it alone once again when it comes to trademark management. But according to IP Watchdog contributor Mark Malek, frugality in this arena may be more hassle than it is worth.

Trademark management has taken on several new layers in the digital era as online channels have provided new havens for counterfeiters to hide their actions and distribute infringing materials. Regulators are now hoping to instill a sense of intellectual property fundamentals in the generation of individuals growing up with the disruptive technologies that are changing the landscape.

As matters of intellectual property begin to transcend borders more frequently in a globalized economy, a joint study from the International Intellectual Property Institute and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has provided a valuable resource for all stakeholders. Researchers have conducted a first-of-its-kind analysis that consolidates information pertaining to specialized IP courts around the world into one centralized resource.

Since its establishment in 1970, the Patent Cooperation Treaty has enabled inventors to gain intellectual property protection at a global level by filing a solitary application. To bolster the procedural framework of this system and reassert its value, the World Intellectual Property Organization and European Patent Office have pledged their commitment to a new cooperative three-year initiative.

Popular file sharing website the Pirate Bay has long been considered one of the internet's primary distribution channels for infringing content, leaking everything from major motion pictures to proprietary software. The Swedish-based website has been able to secure safe harbor through a variety of complex legal maneuvers, but its days could be numbered following a British court ruling that will require internet service providers in the country to block access to the Pirate Bay.

Intellectual property protections have secured a path to success for many of the nation's most important innovations. But to keep this reputation intact, it is becoming apparent that patent and copyright systems will have to evolve in step with emerging digital business practices.

In 2010, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and U.K. Intellectual Property Office established a partnership intended to reduce the administrative burden of each through more determined collaboration. This week, the pair issued a joint report detailing the progress of the initiative to date.

When U.S. Patent and Trademark Office examiners ultimately deem a patent application unsuitable for award, inventors must typically return to the drawing board to revise their submission. However, a new Supreme Court ruling has paved the way for applicants to supply federal judges with previously unsubmitted evidence when filing a motion to challenge the decision of the patent review board.