Trade secrets and software: secrecy over public right to exclude
As software systems become central to business innovation, trade secret law is crucial for protecting them. The need to protect software and algorithms presents unique challenges for businesses that have long relied on patent protection. The nature of software often...
Samsung’s $112M patent verdict: Maxell makes its mark in IP enforcement
In a significant setback for global tech giant Samsung, a Texas federal jury has handed down a USD 111.7 million verdict in favor of Maxell, ruling that Samsung infringed three patents covering user interface technology, multimedia processing, and smart networking....
Delhi High Court holds “algorithms” and “computer program” not patentable
This article discusses an appeal filed by Kroll Information Assurance, LLC (Appellant), against the order of the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks (CG). The appeal concerns the refusal of an Indian Patent Application No. 8100/DELNP/2007 for a...
Optis v. Apple: what the Federal Circuit’s decision means for functional claiming
The Federal Circuit's June 16, 2025, decision in Optis Cellular Technology, LLC v. Apple Inc., 2025 US App. LEXIS 14745 shines a renewed spotlight on a recurring challenge in patent law: functional claiming. Specifically, it reaffirms the court's willingness to apply...
Pierson Ferdinand adds Ph.D. of chemistry and USPTO-admitted attorney in Miami
Miami, FL – April 2, 2025 – Pierson Ferdinand LLP (“PierFerd”), one of the world’s fastest-growing law firms, announces the appointment of Benjamin Dach as a Partner in its Intellectual Property (IP) Practice. Dach arrives at PierFerd with considerable experience in...
Anaqua announces leadership change in Japan and the broader Asia-Pacific region
BOSTON, April 1, 2025 – Anaqua, a leading provider of innovation and intellectual property (IP) management technology solutions and services, today announced changes to its executive leadership in Japan and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Kazuyasu Adachi joined...
EIP announces promotion of Ben Maling to partner
EIP is delighted to announce the promotion of Ben Maling to Partner, effective from April 1, 2025. Maling's extensive experience in artificial intelligence aligns perfectly with EIP's commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements and providing...
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WIPO Global Awards 2024 nominations now open
Nominations for the 2024 WIPO Global Awards are now open: How to Apply: WIPO Global Awards 2024. This year’s awards recognize exceptional small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups that make smart use of intellectual property (IP) and positively...
Businesses save record amount of corporation tax through Patent Box scheme: £1.4 billion in relief in just a year
Relief could be made more generous to encourage innovation UK companies spending on R&D still lags behind the United States, Germany, and Japan The amount of tax saved by businesses through HMRC’s Patent Box scheme has increased by 23% over the last five years,...
USPTO issues inventorship guidance on AI-assisted inventions
The USPTO recently issued inventorship guidance for inventions assisted by artificial intelligence (AI). The guidance explains that “AI-assisted inventions are not categorically unpatentable.” However, a natural person must have provided a “significant contribution”...
Banning patents on plants produced by NGTs could damage innovation and jobs in Europe
Biotechnology is one of the key technologies with a significant potential to boost Europe’s competitiveness, whilst providing solutions that contribute to reaching the EU’s sustainability ambitions, according to many including the EU Commission. A new regulation for...
Clarivate reveals Top 100 Global Innovators 2024
New report introduces rankings for the first time; Samsung Electronics leads the list Clarivate Plc, a leading global provider of transformative intelligence, today revealed its 2024 list of Top 100 Global Innovators™ – organizations leading the world in technology...
Wiggin and Dana welcomes IP trial lawyer Kate Cassidy to its New York office
Wiggin and Dana LLP announced today that seasoned litigator Kate Cassidy has joined the firm’s growing New York office as a partner in its Intellectual Property Litigation Practice Group. Cassidy extends the capabilities of the firm’s Life Sciences Practice Group as...
K&L Gates strengthens IP practice with Charlotte partner addition
Charlotte – Global law firm K&L Gates LLP welcomes Vincent Galluzzo to the firm’s Intellectual Property practice area as a partner. Galluzzo joins K&L Gates’ Charlotte office from Crowell & Moring LLP where he served as co-chair of the firm’s Trade Secrets...
Mewburn Ellis strengthens the firm with five new partner promotions
Leading European Intellectual Property firm promotes five members of its team to the partnership within its engineering and life sciences teams in the UK and Germany LONDON – Intellectual Property firm Mewburn Ellis today announces the appointment of Anna Mudge, Ben...
Open source adoption in fintech grows, more financial services firms seek patent peace
The Fintech Open Source Foundation (FINOS) conducted its third-annual survey to understand the state of open source adoption, contribution, and readiness in the financial services industry. Its findings demonstrate an increase in open-source participation on the part...
UK IPO publishes update and forward look on SEPs work
Standards and standard essential patents (SEPs) are of growing importance to the UK economy and the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is committed to ensuring the current SEPs framework functions effectively to encourage innovation and promote competition. In the...
Strategic battlegrounds: Intel’s high stakes IP litigation in the German court
The recent legal skirmish between Intel and R2 Semiconductor in a German court is a call to action for a strategic re-evaluation of how companies manage their most valuable assets: intellectual property (IP). As an IP consultant and inventor of over 100 patents, I...
The EPO’s new fee structure to provide 30% fee discount for small applicants
The European Patent Office (EPO) recently announced a revised fee structure that will allow applicants who are deemed to be 'microenterprises' to receive a 30% reduction on many of the EPO's official fees. The new fee structure intends to promote access to the...
Avanci welcomes the Volkswagen Group to its 5G Vehicle licensing program
The Volkswagen Group of brands expand their relationship with Avanci to cover the next generation of connected vehicles DUBLIN, Ireland – February 20, 2024 - Avanci, the independent global leader in joint licensing solutions, today announced that all car, bus, and...
EPO updates guidelines for examining AI inventions
The European Patent Office (EPO) has released a draft of its new Guidelines for Examination, which will come into effect on 1 March 2024. The new guidelines include some important updates to the EPO’s practice for examining inventions in the fields of artificial...
Another milestone in China’s implementing regulations of patent law
The Implementing Regulations and Examination Guidelines came into force in January this year. The new regulations have optimized the previous version in aspects such as application, examination, enforcement, and protection. These optimizations should make applying for...
Clarivate launches new center for intellectual property and innovation research
Bringing together expertise, operational practice knowledge, and powerful data models to improve innovation and IP decision-making Clarivate Plc, a leading global provider of transformative intelligence, today launched the Clarivate Center for IP and Innovation...
Blank Rome welcomes IP litigation associate in Washington, D.C.
Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Eda Stark has joined the firm’s Washington, D.C. office as an associate in the Intellectual Property Litigation group, which also recently welcomed partner Andrew R Kopsidas. Eda concentrates her practice on representing...
Green technology patenting trends in India
Climate change is a global issue, and calls for rapid action are growing stronger. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to keep global warming to 1.5°C. The message is clear: climate change is a worldwide issue that...
Avanci announces 5G Vehicle license agreement with General Motors
Leading US car maker extends relationship with Avanci to cover the next generation of connected vehicles DALLAS, Texas, February 13, 2024 – Avanci, the independent global leader in joint licensing solutions, today announced that it has signed a 5G Vehicle license...
Google settles lawsuit over computer chips that power AI
On January 24, 2024, Google LLC settled a patent infringement lawsuit over computer chips that power its artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The settlement comes the same day that closing arguments were scheduled to begin in a trial on the lawsuit by Singular...
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Women in IP Leadership
A segment dedicated to women working in the IP industry, providing a platform to share real accounts from rising women around the globe. In these interviews we will be discussing experiences, celebrating milestones and achievements, and putting forward ideas for advancing equity and diversity.
By providing a platform to share personal experiences we aim to continue the empowerment of women in the world of IP.


Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Series
In this six-part series Dr. Suzanne Wertheim, of Worthwhile Research & Consulting, talks to The Patent Lawyer about diversity, equity, and inclusion: what it means; the current challenges; DEI in law; gender bias; and what we can all do to improve.