News

AA Thornton’s Pharma & Biotech experts contribute to the European Patent Office’s peer consultation on the EPOs Guidelines for Examination; Part G chapter II,  section 5.6 concerning Antibodies. On 1st March 2021 the EPO published new guidelines for the examination of claims to antibodies which has raised some some specific concerns regarding the proposed wording… Read more »

AA Thornton ranked in WTR 1000 2021 We are delighted to announce that our Trade Mark team has been ranked in WTR 1000 2021 in the silver banding, having attracted ‘extensive feedback’ and are noted as being ‘renowned for [our] top-end work’. Additionally, partner Ian Gill has been ranked again as a one of the… Read more »

We are delighted that Partner Mike Jennings has been appointed by the EPO President to continue his contributions to the SACEPO Working Party on Quality for another 3 years. What is SACEPO? The Standing Advisory Committee before the European Patent Office (SACEPO) was formed in 1978. Its aim was to give “interested circles” a say… Read more »

UK IPO unveils new scheme for protecting Geographical Indications in the UK Until now, Geographical Indications (GIs) have been protected in the UK via protection afforded under EU law, but this scheme ceased to cover the UK at the end of the Brexit transition period. It has now been confirmed that GIs will be protected… Read more »

AA Thornton support Admiral Group in successful sale of the Penguin Portals and Preminen businesses We at AA Thornton are very proud to have supported the superb team at Admiral Group with their IP and trade mark needs over many years and, in particular, to have recently assisted them on the IP side of the… Read more »

Impact of the end of the Brexit Transition Period on Tribunal Proceedings The Brexit transition period ended on 31 December 2020 and the UK IPO has issued a new practice note covering some new aspects of UK IPO trade mark and registered design practice in relation to tribunal proceedings such as cancellation actions or oppositions…. Read more »

Brexit burn-out for the EUIPO Torpedo An often important element of the strategic considerations relating to claims in the UK for infringement of a registered EU right is due to be removed on 1 January 2021.   The Torpedo Article 132 of the EUTMR[1] states that EU trade mark courts shall stay an action for… Read more »

AA Thornton’s Mike Jennings joins the EPO, UKIPO and USPTO in inviting industry comments on the recent IP office consultations   The era of public consultations In the last 3 years, several intellectual property offices have invited the global IP community to express our views on what we need from them and from legislators. The… Read more »

AA Thornton joins Senior leaders’ diversity think tank This public statement was first published on IP Inclusive. We are proud to share the below statement from IP inclusive on the ‘diversity and inclusion think tank’ initiative. We support this initiative as part of our ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion at AA Thornton, and strive… Read more »

AA Thornton is ranked again as a Tier 1 firm in The Legal 500 The Legal 500 2021 edition has now been published and we are absolutely delighted to be recommended as a top-tier firm for our trade marks team, who have not only been described as “extremely talented“, ” excellent” and “dependable” but that their work for clients… Read more »