Loss of Henry Goh

Henry Goh, one of the top IP specialist in Malaysia, passed away on 20th July 2008, at the age of 67.

With some experience as a legal clerk in trademark affairs, Goh started Henry Goh & Co Sdn Bhd in 1977 due to a chance encounter with an Italian patent attorney. The encounter led him to be curious about this field which led him to discover the viability of this field from IP books and magazine.

In an interview with Malaysian Business, Goh described his early trailblazing adventure as a test of resilience, self confidence and self ability. He personally attended to most of the paper work and deadlines as he did not have a dispatch staff then. As a pioneer who established an IP boutique firm, his networking and marketing flair contributes to his firms growth. Henry Goh is regarded as one of the top IP firms in Malaysia today.

Goh regularly shares his knowledge by conducting seminars and presentations in universities, research organizations, chambers of commerce and business conferences.

The IP profession in Malaysia has loss one of its prominent leader.

David Ho's Venture

David Ho's research on palm oil based ingredients resulted in an extracting process which he then patent. Then he set up Carotech Berhad in 1992 and the company was listed in Mesdaq on 2005 to capitalize on palm oil based phytonutrients. The manufacturing of phytonutrients was made utilizing specialized high vacuum low temperature distilation technology.

In an interview with the Star, David mentioned that Europe is its biggest market which accounts for 70% of sales which is backed by Europe's ambition for using biodiesel.

"Carotech has the technology that is not easily replicated by its rivals due to high level of research and development. It also enjoys its “early bird” status in the industry as barriers to entry to the phytonutrients and biodiesel industries are relatively high."

Different Approach for Patenting of Software and Non-Technical Matter

FICPI conducted a survey on national patent office responsiveness towards patenting of non-technical matter, such as software. There are four loose groups identified:

1. (Most lenient) Allowance of patents for software, business method and other non-technical inventions. Country: USA

2. Provision for usage of technical means. Influenced by USA, these countries recognize programs that run on a computer, but the program need not necessarily solve a technical problem. Country: Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Israel, Japan, Canada

3. Provision for invention to have technical contribution. A computer implemented invention must contribute a technical effect. Country: Most of the countries in Europe. Malaysia and China, not in the survey, also falls in this group.

4. (Most restrictive) Rejection of all software and business method. Country: Argentina and Columbia

Individual Inventors can Benefit 90% Discount on PCT

WIPO announced a good news for individual inventors. As of 1 July 2008, WIPO is giving a 90% discount for individual inventors who opt to file PCT. The 90% discount is valid for international filing fee. The search fee for EPO is reduced by 75%. This discount is valid in countries with national capita income of less than USD3000.

11 companies license Mimos technologies - The Star

Technologies that are developed at national applied research company Mimos will be turned into commercial products and applications by local companies. Close to a dozen companies have licensed key technology platforms from Mimos, the company said.

Datuk Abdul Wahab Abdullah , Mimos president and chief executive officer, said the purpose of the licensing programme was to transfer the technologies from Mimos’ laboratories to local companies. “The technology transfer process is critical for the country as the private sector joins the government to commercialise homegrown technologies,” Abdul Wahab said.

The applications licensed by Mimos are mostly semantic technologies — namely web portal, logistics, travel and medical applications, which were licensed to Alam Teknokrat Sdn Bhd, Biforst Technology Sdn Bhd, Bill Adam Associates Bhd and In-Fusion Solutions Sdn Bhd respectively. Semantic technologies enable more interactivity in processing information.

These semantic applications will provide a platform for computer applications to be meaning- and knowledge-based, Mimos said. Besides semantic technologies, Mimos has licensed other technologies such as a hybrid solution that combines WiFi, WiMAX and Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) technologies to Pernec Integrated Network Systems Sdn Bhd.

Additionally a grid computing solution was licensed to Jaring Communications Sdn Bhd. Mimos said it also licensed iDola (a PC-based mobile computing device for the education sector) to FTEC System Sdn Bhd, while Jen-ii (a PC-based computing device to bridge the digital divide) was awarded to Mimos Smart Computing Sdn Bhd.

The Science Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti) is in the midst of finalising other technology recipients, identified by Mimos, for the transfer of more Mimos technology platforms. However, Mimos declined to comment on the current technologies it is working on.

The 11 technology recipients were identified by Mosti. These companies only need to pay royalties to Mimos for the technologies, according to Abdul Wahab. He did not specify the exact amount.