Automotive & Aerospace

Financial Times names AA Thornton one of Europe’s leading Patent Law Firm’s 2020 We are delighted to have been named by the Financial Times as one of Europe’s Leading Patent Law Firms for 2020. We would like to thank our clients and peers who gave feedback in relation to our inclusion in this list. If you… Read more »

Legal update – UK IPO coronavirus response In recognition of the challenges individuals and businesses are facing amidst the coronavirus outbreak, the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) has made certain temporary adjustments to its practices, to ensure that parties are not adversely affected in their dealings with the Office. It has also had to… Read more »

Artificial Intelligence – Our March 2020 report According to the European Patent Office, for the first time in more than a decade, digital technologies have taken the lead in patent applications filed. Among the top technical fields digital communication (+19.6%) and computer technology (+10.2%) saw the steepest growth. The report, published on the 12th March… Read more »

Automotive team member Stuart Greenwood highlights how the UK-based F1 teams are joining forces to assess whether they can combine their expertise in design, rapid prototyping, and high value manufacturing and production, to produce medical devices to help in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. More than 60 manufacturers have been asked to make up to… Read more »

Patent attorney, and Automotive & Aerospace team member, Marianne Privett reports on the Ford GoElectric event Following the UK Government’s recent announcement that the sale of new diesel and gasoline powered cars could be banned as early as 2032 the Ford Go Electric roadshow was in London in February to promote their electric and hybrid… Read more »

Automotive & Aerospace team member and motorsport enthusiast Alex Bone explains  ‘Dual Axis Steering’ and  and why some consider it to be controversial As if Formula 1 drivers didn’t already have their hands full with a steering wheel covered in buttons and switches, the Mercedes technical team have added a new function for the 2020… Read more »

AA Thornton is ranked as a top tier firm The Legal 500 2020 edition has now been published and we are absolutely delighted to be recommended as a top-tier firm for our trade marks practice, which was described as “strong”, “dedicated” and an “excellent team of knowledgeable and genuinely good people”. We also remain highly recommended for our patents… Read more »

Automotive team members Marianne Privett and Nikesh Patel report on the Cenex Low Carbon Vehicle and Connected Automated Mobility 2019 event On the 4th and 5th of September, Patent Attorneys Nikesh Patel, Marianne Privett and David Blair attended the co-hosted Cenex-LCV (Low Carbon Vehicle) and Cenex-CAM (Connected Automated Mobility) events at Millbrook Proving Ground. With visitor numbers increasing every year, the events… Read more »

David Blair gives us a brief insight into the history of electric car innovation in relation to patents. The automotive industry is currently in the midst of great strides in innovation and development in the fields of electric vehicles, connected cars and autonomous driving. It is not surprising that technological advancements in the fields of… Read more »

Gravity Industries Ltd have successfully patented a Jet Suit, but how is this a ‘new’ invention? On 13 March 2019 the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) granted a patent (GB2559971) to a UK company, Gravity Industries Limited, for “A wearable flight system with propulsion assemblies worn on a user’s body”, otherwise known as a jet… Read more »