News

hybrid [pronounced hahy-brid] noun A thing made by combining two different elements. Hybrid cars are becoming more and more prevalent and here at AA Thornton we handle patent applications directed to the wide range of technology involved. This brief article explains exactly what is meant by a “hybrid”, the different types of hybrid vehicle available… Read more »

Bosch is the leading global supplier of technology and services when it comes to vehicle safety and the “Stop the Crash” initiative is providing them with a platform to campaign for much more widespread use of vehicle safety systems. What is “Stop the Crash?” Stop the Crash (#STOPTHECRASH) is an initiative of the consumer association… Read more »

The UKIPO have announced that the option of webmarking products to indicate registered design rights will launch on 1 October 2017. This will bring UK registered designs into line with UK patents, where webmarking of patented products has (read previous article here) been an option since October 2014. Present situation in webmarking As reported in an… Read more »

We are pleased to report that Thailand has become the 99th country to sign up to the International trade mark system and as of 7 November 2017 it will be possible to designate or subsequently designate Thailand under International trade marks. In 2015, the Thai trade marks office received over 38,000 applications for new trade… Read more »

For the first time, English Courts have granted relief in the form of a negative declaration known as an “Arrow” declaration which allows the claimant who sought the declaration to launch their product on the market with confidence that the patentee will not threaten the claimant for patent infringement in the UK. Following a judgment… Read more »

In a Judgment handed down today, the Supreme Court has reformulated the test for patent infringement in the UK, particularly insofar as it relates to infringement by equivalents. The Patent and the declaration sought by Actavis Eli Lilly owns a patent that claims the use of “pemetrexed disodium” in the manufacture of a medicament for… Read more »

A key change has recently been implemented under European Patent Law in order to exclude from patentability, plants and animals “exclusively” obtained by essentially biological processes. Under the European Patent Convention plants and animals are patentable as long as they are not confined to a particular plant or animal variety. However, newly implemented rules (Rules… Read more »

Our associate Chris Burnett reports on a talk he gave to sixth formers at Hylands School in Chelmsford, Essex about careers in IP: “The last time I stepped into a secondary school was when I was a pupil nearly 20 years ago. I instantly stepped back in time walking through the main door, and familiar… Read more »

In response to an opposition by chemicals company BASF, Craig Turner, a partner in our Chemistry, Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical patents team, successfully defended Lycored’s European patent which protects their unique lycopene formulation, used for providing stable red colouring for foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Longstanding client Lycored are a market-leader in the development and supply of research-based,… Read more »

A.A.Thornton & Co patent attorneys Mike Jennings and Nikesh Patel attended the Pat-Tech Exchange event on the 6th – 7th June in Dublin. The event provided a great opportunity for knowledge sharing, taking account of the different perspectives of large multinationals and SMEs. Mike moderated a discussion of substantive patent law harmonisation and preparations for… Read more »