Knowledge Hub

Careers in Ideas launch event Associate Patent Attorney Chris Burnett reflects on the launch of Careers In Ideas, and the work ahead to raise awareness of IP with students. “On 10 April 2018, a crowd of over 100 IP professionals, careers experts and students gathered at the Royal Society of Medicine for the launch of… Read more »

Relaxing the Tension Between Publishing and Patenting: Practical Hints and Tips – Part two In the first part of our article on this topic, we outlined some patent-related ramifications of publishing your research and development prior to filing a patent application. This second part provides you with some practical hints and tips for drafting your paper, helping you to… Read more »

Relaxing the Tension Between Publishing and Patenting: The Legal Basis for Tension – Part One In the summer of 1975, at a Medical Research Council (MRC) meeting, a presentation was given by scientists César Milstein and Georges Köhler.1 The topic: monoclonal antibodies. The presentation was attended by Tony Vickers, a member of the MRC, who asked the scientists for… Read more »

Partners of the firm and Registered Trade Mark Attorneys Ian Gill and Vanessa Lawrence along with Senior Associate, Sarah Darby, will represent the firm at the INTA 140th Annual Meeting, at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle from 19 – 23 May 2018. With the increasing importance of brands to consumers, companies and the global economy, the… Read more »

Recent innovations of the use of Silk in medical devices.   Sutures made of silk have been used by humans for centuries. This article looks at some recent innovations that show the many diverse applications of silk in a medical context. There are many factors to consider when designing a medical device, and in the… Read more »

“Working Statements” at the Indian Patent Office – a recent petition may provide some much needed guidance   Every year, the holder of an Indian patent must file a statement declaring whether their invention is being “worked” or “not worked” in India. This is known as Form 27. If the invention is being worked, then… Read more »

The EPO recently announced three fee reducing measures, which came into force on 1 April 2018. The EPO will not be adjusting fees due to inflation for the period 2018-2020 (typically there is a biennial inflation-based adjustment of fees) PCT search and examination fees are reduced by EUR100 The discount on examination fees for applications… Read more »

The UK has now deposited its instrument of ratification of the Agreement on the Unified Patent Court (UPCA) with the European Commission in Brussels, thereby completing the legal necessities for the UK to take part in the Court. The UK became a signatory to the UPCA in February 2013 and, in November 2016, committed to… Read more »

Each year on the 26th April, we celebrate World Intellectual Property Day, to remind ourselves how intellectual property rights (patents, trademarks, industrial designs, copyright) encourage innovation and creativity. This year’s World Intellectual Property Day campaign celebrates the brilliance, ingenuity, curiosity and courage of the women who are driving change in our world and shaping our… Read more »

In March 2018 the General Court held that the Registered Community Design No 257001-0001 owned by Crocs, Inc was invalid as it was lacking in novelty on the basis of prior disclosures of its design. A proprietor of a Registered Community Design (RCD) right has a 25 year monopoly on its design which gives them… Read more »