Patents
Assignments in practice
November 2011
News - Patents
Timing and form of assignments of IP rights from one entity to another has come under increased scrutiny by the UK Courts recently. Decisions have shown that timing in particular is very important and gotten wrong or overlooked, there isn't necessarily a fix. Under UK law, failure to obtain valid assignment of the priority application from the inventor before a later patent application is filed…
UKIPO: Mental Acts and Computer Programs
October 2011
News - Patents
We are pleased to report that UKIPO patent examination practice concerning the link between computer programs and mental acts has recently moved closer to that of the EPO. We have argued for some time that the UKIPO's approach to excluded subject matter was incorrect, unfair and inconsistent with precedents set by the UK Courts. Earlier this month, His Honour Judge Birss QC decided a case in the…
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Will there be a European Community Patent?
March 2011 News - Patents -
Patent Prosecution Highway
October 2010 News - Patents -
EPO Fee Practice Changes 1 April 2010
April 2010 News - Patents -
EPO Divisional Applications
January 2010 News - Patents
Other IP News
Changes to IP Enforcement in the UK
March 2011
News - Intellectual Property
The Patents County Court (“PCC”) was established in 1990 to provide small to medium-sized enterprises (“SMEs”) with an alternative, lower cost forum to the Patents Court, a branch of the Chancery Division of the High Court. Unfortunately the PCC was not…