The BASF judgment: how timing uncertainty impacts divisional patent applications in India
Patent applicants in India often face a practical question: what is the last possible opportunity to file a divisional patent application? While the Indian Patents Act (1970) specifies this can be done “any time before the grant of the parent patent application,”...
Nike leads way in footwear patent filings as manufacturers compete in ‘running shoe arms race’
Shoe manufacturers in a race to develop more advanced technologies such as carbon plates and nitrogen bubbles – patent and trademark litigation has followed New entrants like Li-Ning, Xtep, Hoka, and On are competing to supply elite runners. Nike is leading the way...
Roche v. Zydus: the role of claim mapping in patent infringement cases
The recent judgment dated October 9, 2024, by the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi in F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG & Anr. v. Zydus Lifesciences Limited, CS(COMM) 159/2024 [Neutral Citation: 2024:DHC:7868}, has brought the process of claim mapping to the forefront in patent...
Realistic costs ought to be awarded considering ever-increasing litigation expenses
Background The plaintiffs, AstraZeneca, filed a suit (CS (Comm.) 101/2022) at the Delhi High Court seeking a permanent injunction to restrain the defendant, Westcoast Pharmaceutical Works Limited, from infringing their patent IN 297581. The patent was for the novel...
Clarivate launches AI-powered patent search solution in Derwent
Faster and more relevant results to empower critical IP decision-making London, UK - December 12, 2024 - Clarivate Plc (NYSE: CLVT), a leading global provider of transformative intelligence, today announced the launch of AI Search in Derwent™. Combining artificial...
Best practices for drafting strong patent claims
In the life span of any business, the investment goes way beyond the financial aspects. It's the years of dedication, contemplating, experimenting, and actively refining your idea of a product or service cut through the market. From the moment an idea is born,...
UK Government decides not to reduce or limit R&D tax credits
The UK Government’s 2024 Budget, while squarely focused on tax increases and revenue measures, suggests a pragmatic recognition by the new Labour administration that sustainable tax receipts are ideally underpinned by economic growth and wealth creation. In a global...
How I would use AI to steal your design… and what you can do about it
To protect our designs, ideas, and innovations, we must think like an infringer. May AI allow bad actors to knock off your design… and get away with it? First, we need to understand AI-assisted design. Like all new tech, AI will follow Amara’s law. We overestimate the...
Calcutta High Court issues IP Division Rules
The Calcutta High Court recently adopted the much-awaited Intellectual Property Rights Division Rules, 2023 (Calcutta IPD Rules), making it the third High Court in India, after Delhi and Madras, to implement specialized regulations for IP matters. While the Calcutta...
AstraZeneca challenges Axelpharm’s cancer drug patent
AstraZeneca is a world-renowned pharmaceutical company. It owns many patents in Russia and takes steps to protect them against encroachers. Its medicines are exempt from sanctions because they are mainly used for the life-preserving treatment of cancer. Axelpharm, a...
USPTO issues final rule on Director Review of PTAB decisions
On October 1, 2024, the USPTO published a new final rule, Rules Governing Director Review of Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions. 89 Fed. Reg. 79,744 (October 1, 2024). The final rule codifies many aspects of the PTAB’s revised interim Director Review...
The dark side of fake goods: consumers put health, safety, and the economy at risk while fuelling organized crime
Organized crime groups take advantage of worldwide demand for low-priced goods, misleading consumers into purchasing fake goods Approximately 86 million fake items were seized in the EU in 2022, with an estimated value exceeding €2 billion Counterfeit goods represent...
UK IPO campaign highlights dangers of counterfeit vehicle parts
The campaign focuses on the serious risks these goods pose, warning that ‘Fake Always Breaks’ The UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) has launched a new national awareness campaign warning of the dangers of buying counterfeit vehicle parts The ‘Fake Always...
Welcome to Hangzhou! The AIPPI World Congress 2024
AIPPI World Congress 2024 opened its doors in Hangzhou, China, on Saturday, 19 October. All attending were warmly welcomed, and there was general excitement for the next few days of educational sessions, member meetings, and networking. Guoqing ZHANG, Vice Premier of...
IP leader Powell Gilbert further expands team with new associate hire
Law firm adds Jennifer O’Kane to its growing team LONDON – Top-ranked IP law firm Powell Gilbert LLP today announces that it has bolstered its team with the appointment of Jennifer O’Kane as an associate. Jennifer’s arrival makes her the fifth addition to the...
Nokia and Samsung sign patent licensing agreement for video standards
Agreement covers use of Nokia’s inventions in video standards Espoo, Finland – Nokia and Samsung sign patent licensing agreement. Nokia recently announced that it has signed a patent license agreement with Samsung, which covers the use of Nokia’s innovations...
Mewburn Ellis reports: Highly anticipated G1/19 decision confirms that computer simulations are patentable at the EPO
Last week, the Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBoA) issued their decision G1/19, which concerns the conditions under which computer-implemented simulations might meet the criteria for European patent protection. This was a highly anticipated decision which has attracted a...
Global law firm Dentons has recruited Loïc Lemercier as a partner and Head of the Intellectual Property and Technology practice in Paris.
Loïc Lemercier focuses on patent litigation and all areas of intellectual property and know-how. For more than 10 years, he has advised clients in the pharmaceutical and telecom sectors on strategic legal developments related to patent infringement and/or nullity...
NovumIP to join global IP solution provider Questel
NovumIP and its companies Novagraaf and PAVIS announced today that they will be joining Questel, after the IP solutions provider acquired a majority stake in the business from private equity firm, Paragon Partners. The parties anticipate that the closing will take...
Should IP service providers charge urgency fees?
Many IP Service providers, just like law firms, charge urgency fees for late instructions. For private practise lawyer, there are many reasons for this: the likely late hours worked to get the job done; the probability of having to rejig an ever-growing workload; the...
Gifty Gakpetor: In honor of International Women’s Day
We have come a long way to be recognised fully, for the value we bring to society, whether in business, in the home or in government. Change has been happening. In government, we have remarkable female leaders such as, Angela Merkel - Chancellor of Germany, Jacinda...
Brad Lane reports: Supreme Court oral argument in the Arthrex dispute revealed some of the Justices’ dispositions towards Arthrex’s arguments.
Last week's Supreme Court oral argument in the Arthrex dispute revealed some of the Justices’ dispositions towards Arthrex’s arguments. The Justices generally agreed with the parties that the Court’s earlier decision, Edmond v. United States, 520 U.S. 651 (1997),...
IP service provider NovumIP expands its global reach with launch in North America
NovumIP, the global IP service provider, has today announced its official launch in North America. NovumIP was formed in December 2019 as a joint venture which combines Novagraaf’s 130-plus years of legal and consulting experience with the expertise of PAVIS in high...
10th Edition of Clarivate Top 100 Global Innovators Report celebrates innovation excellence and quantifies economic value of ideation Feb 23, 2021
10-time recipients demonstrated greater market capitalization growth than Dow Jones Industrial Average or S&P 500, according to latest Clarivate Top 100 Global Innovators report London, U.K., February 23, 2021 – Clarivate Plc (NYSE:CLVT), a global leader in...
HGF continues to expand across Europe with the arrival of a new French Partner Vivien Verbrugge
HGF are pleased to announce the arrival of Vivien Verbrugge who joins HGF as a Partner on 17th February 2021. Vivien joins our Engineering team and brings extensive business experience in different industries including Glass Manufacturing, Automotive, Construction,...
Barclays and ByteDance join LOT Network
Barclays joins LOT Network and Open Invention Network Community Barclays takes action against attacks from patent trolls Barclays is the first major European headquartered bank to join LOT Network and Open Invention Network Community to oppose the abuse of...
Anaqua acquires Quantify IP to offer advanced intellectual property cost budgeting and forecasting capabilities
Acquisition expands and enhances IP management products with Global IP Estimator and Portfolio Estimator Anaqua, the leading provider of innovation and intellectual property management solutions, today announced that it has acquired global IP cost estimating software...
CTC Legal Media partners with ‘Stuff You Should Know About IP’ podcast
CTC Legal Media is very excited to announce the partnership with the podcast 'Stuff You Should Know About IP' - a entertaining and didactic show that explores many aspects of IP in a relatable and relevant way. Previous episodes include: The Crystal Ball of Data...
NorthInvest partners with leading intellectual property law firm Appleyard Lees
Leeds-based investment non-profit NorthInvest and Appleyard Lees are delighted to announce their partnership, offering specialist IP support to tech and digital start-ups. This collaboration will enable Appleyard Lees to help Northern start-ups reach their full...
European IP professionals struggle with getting value for money from IP management services and technology, according to NovumIP research
74% of those surveyed in Europe are not satisfied with their current technology systems. The number one investment area for European IP professionals is IP advisory/strategic services. More than four in ten French respondents and a quarter of British and German...
Sonal Mishra reports: Draft Patent (Amendment) Rules, 2021
The Government of India through its Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), a wing of Ministry of Commerce and Industry has circulated the draft patents (amendment) rules, 2021 dated 9th Feb, 2021 proposing to amend the patent rules, 2003. The...
Priggya Arora reports: Patent trolls: ICT vs. Pharmaceuticals
Patent trolls have been an element of the intellectual property regime almost since the beginning- although they were known as “patent sharks” during Edison’s time. This is in itself not surprising- any new form of legal system is going to have those who seek to...
New COO for leading intellectual property firm Appleyard Lees
(Manchester – 4 Feb 2021) Appleyard Lees are delighted to announce the appointment of John Kushnick as their Chief Operating Officer (COO). John is based in Manchester. John, who is also a qualified solicitor, joined the leading intellectual property firm on 1...
Anaqua Successfully Completes SOC 2 Examination
Leading IP management solutions provider demonstrates strength of commitment to information and systems security BOSTON, January 26, 2021 – Anaqua, the leading provider of innovation and intellectual property management solutions, today announced that it has...
Ropes & Gray and Novavax pursue a COVID-19 vaccine
Ropes & Gray’s life sciences practice played a critical role in helping longstanding client Novavax, Inc. pursue a COVID-19 vaccine; on January 28, Novavax announced that NVX-CoV2373, its protein-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate, met the primary endpoint, with a...
Startup Pakistan reports: Apple granted patent for Face ID biometric security system
Apple has just been granted a new patent that is related to its Face ID biometric security system. The patent details a next gen advancement in facial recognition technology, which apparently uses facial heat mapping for authentication. According to a Patently Apple...
Top-ranked IP law firm Powell Gilbert adds to team with associate hire
Leading IP firm continues to expand its team with the addition of Daniel Down LONDON – Specialist IP law firm Powell Gilbert LLP today announces that it has added to its market-leading team with the appointment of Daniel Down as associate. The hire, which follows the...
Jeffrey Han Rejoins Vinson & Elkins as Intellectual Property Litigation Counsel
Jeffrey Han, an attorney whose practice covers a wide range of intellectual property matters with an emphasis on patent litigation, has rejoined Vinson & Elkins as counsel in the firm’s Austin office. Han’s experience extends to all phases of intellectual property...
NovumIP launches global research report highlighting key challenges and opportunities for IP industry in 2021 and beyond
88% of IP professionals have felt the impact of the pandemic on their organisation, but the majority anticipate a strong recovery Global IP provider NovumIP has today published its ‘IP industry outlook 2021’, a new research report which aims to help IP departments,...
Three new partners at IP boutique firm HOYNG ROKH MONEGIER
HOYNG ROKH MONEGIER is pleased to welcome three new partners, including two internal promotions and one lateral hire (at the Madrid office). Mathis Breuer (Dusseldorf office) has been working as an attorney since 2013 and joined the firm in 2015. He represents clients...
Carpmaels & Ransford announces new Senior Associate promotions
The promotions will take effect from 1st January 2021 Carpmaels & Ransford is pleased to announce the promotion of Peter Herrick and Russell Woolley to Senior Associate, effective from 1st January 2021. Peter, who sits within the Engineering and Tech teams, has a...
Yokogawa Joins LOT Network to Promote and Safeguard Open Innovation
–Partnership with a global community of leading companies to protect against patent assertion entities– Tokyo, Japan - December 10, 2020 Yokogawa Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6841) announces it has joined LOT Network, a global non-profit organization that aims to...
New appointments signal rapid growth for Mewburn Ellis in Munich
Leading European specialist IP firm continues to bolster international offering with a spate of new hires 14 December 2020: Leading European IP firm Mewburn Ellis has continued to demonstrate impressive growth with a series of new hires in its Munich office bringing...
Clarivate Acquires Hanlim IPS
Combining strengths to accelerate innovation in South Korea by offering a more comprehensive range of IP information and insights solutions London, U.K. December 1, 2020 – Clarivate Plc (NYSE:CCC), a global leader in providing trusted information and insights to...
UKRI announces latest tranche of funding to develop legal tech within UK law sector
Wyser, Juralio and Office & Dragons among six businesses to receive funding as part of a £550 million scheme by UKRI to drive innovation during the Covid-19 pandemic UKRI’s Sustainable Innovation Fund targeted organisations requiring investment to keep R&D...
Legrand Innovates with Anaqua’s AQX IP Management Platform
French industrial group selects Anaqua software and services to streamline patent and trademark management processes BOSTON, December 1, 2020 – Anaqua, the leading provider of innovation and intellectual property management solutions, today announced that France’s...
Shashank Sardesai reports: Spotify granted patent for personalizing user experience
In October 2020, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a patent to Spotify, a global music streaming platform, for ‘methods and systems for personalizing user experience based on personality traits’. Spotify had filed the patent application...
Olga Kudoyar and Taras Manolov explain the amendments to Ukrainian Patent Law
Amendments to the Ukrainian Law on Protection of Rights to Inventions and Utility Models entered into force on August 16, 2020. The most important changes are explained below. Utility Model and Patent Subject Matter The amendments limit the utility model subject...
James Wilding reports: Priority and the ‘same applicant’ test: EPO maintains status quo
The EPO Board of Appeal has now issued its written decision in T 844/18 confirming the revocation of EP-B-2771468, an important CRISPR patent belonging to the Broad Institute, MIT and Harvard. The case was being widely followed due to the priority entitlement issues...
EIP secures victory for Conversant against Daimler in connected cars patent dispute
Munich, Germany 4th November: EIP has secured a significant victory for client Conversant Wireless in Germany. EIP successfully asserted a Standard Essential Patent (SEP) for Conversant against Stuttgart carmaker Daimler in a dispute that will have repercussions...
Bob Romeo comments: Anaqua’s AQX® ranked top IP Management Solution by leading industry analyst
Hyperion Research’s MarketViewTM recognizes Anaqua as a market leader, highly innovative, and setting industry standards. BOSTON, November 10, 2020 – Anaqua’s flagship AQX® platform has been rated the top IP management solution in the newly published Hyperion...
Dr Jennifer Bailey – Milk from microbes: IP challenges and opportunities
In response to the rising demand for milk alternatives, some companies are turning to microbes rather than plants to make a product that is essentially the same as cow’s milk. As well as avoiding the environmental and animal-welfare concerns over dairy farming, milk...
Sidley Continues Expansion in Dallas With Addition of Patent Trial Partners Aimee Fagan and Phillip Aurentz
Dallas – is pleased to announce that Aimee Fagan and Phillip Aurentz have joined the firm as partners in the Dallas office. Ms. Fagan and Mr. Aurentz will be members of the global Intellectual Property (IP) Litigation practice. Both Ms. Fagan and Mr. Aurentz join...
LOT Network achieves significant membership milestone – 1,000 members and counting
LOT Network releases detailed report on its breadth of protections across software, automotive, electronics and other high-tech industries PHOENIX (OCTOBER 28, 2020) - LOT Network Inc., the leading international community of high-tech companies protecting against...
Chris Carter & Mattia Pagani report: new roulette layout application refused by Australian Patent Office
On 16 October 2020, in the decision of Crown Melbourne Limited [2020] APO 47, the Australian Patent Office refused a patent application by casino owner Crown Melbourne Ltd for a new roulette table layout after it found that the new layout did not provide any...
Cloud gaming positioned for strong future growth according to new research from Clarivate
More than four in five gamers who do not currently play cloud games say they will start cloud gaming in the next twelve months London, UK, October 20, 2020 — Clarivate Plc (NYSE:CCC), a global leader in providing trusted information and insights to accelerate the pace...
Robert Stoll reports: Supreme Court to hear Athrex Case on issues relating to the Appointment of Patent Judges
In a not unexpected decision, the Supreme Court (SC) granted cert to hear the Athrex v. Smith and Nephew, Inc. case on October 13, 2020 on two questions. The first question is whether the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) judges are “principal” officers needing...
Karmanya Singh Sareen discusses why the TKDL should be made public
The Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) is the first database of its kind in India. It is being used to document and protect traditional Indian knowledge of medicinal practices, from misappropriation and monopolization by corporate entities and foreign...
Jonathan Foster, Appleyard Lees trainee patent attorney, goes above and beyond to raise awareness this World Mental Health Day
Jonathan Foster, Appleyard Lees trainee patent attorney, is raising awareness of and working to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness. Jonathan is working with the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) and Jonathan’s voice, an organisation...
Synamedia Joins LOT Network
First UK-headquartered video and pay-TV solutions provider to join the non-profit community London – October 8, 2020 – Synamedia, the world’s largest independent video software provider, today announced it has joined the global non-profit organization LOT Network as a...
Jevgenijs Fortuna gives an overview on Registered Community Design
Content of packaging is neither part of the industrial design, nor does it extend the protection conferred on the design. The CJEU has put an end to the saga of invalidity of Registered Community Designs for sprats in transparent packaging (C-199/20 and C-200/20) by...
CEO of Clarivate Jerre Stead comments on the acquisition of CPA Global
Clarivate Completes Acquisition of CPA Global to Form a Global Intellectual Property Powerhouse Creates end-to-end solution covering the entire intellectual property, science and innovation lifecycle Clarivate reaffirms standalone 2020 financial outlook London, U.K.,...
Mathys & Squire launches innovative online advisory platform providing IP resources for startups, SMEs and entrepreneurs
One-stop platform offers small business community access to insightful information and connections to help facilitate the startup process Leading intellectual property firm, Mathys & Squire has announced the launch of its Scaleup Quarter, a one-stop microsite...
Genprex names seasoned IP Executive, Thomas C. Gallagher, as Senior Vice President of Intellectual Property and Licensing
Gallagher’s appointment demonstrates the Company’s commitment to building a world-class intellectual property portfolio AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Genprex, Inc. (“Genprex” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: GNPX), a clinical-stage gene therapy company developing...
Katherine Wang, Partner at Ropes & Gray, summarizes the Draft Measures proposed by NMPA.
China’s National Medical Products Administration proposes implementing rules on Patent Linkage for public comments The National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) recently published the draft Measures for Implementing an Early-Stage Resolution Mechanism for...
Matthew Norwood, Partner at Ridout & Maybee LLP, gives an overview of the Choueifaty v. Canada case.
Federal Court Overturns Patent Appeal Board on Test for Patent Eligibility of Computer Implemented Inventions in Choueifaty v. Canada For nine years, since the Federal Court of Appeal handed down its decision in Amazon.com Inc. v Canada (Commissioner of Patents), 2011...
Ken Seddon, CEO of LOT Network, and Russell Binns, CEO of AST, comment on their collaboration.
LOT NETWORK AND AST BRING MORE PATENT MITIGATION RISK OPTIONS TO LOT NETWORK MEMBERS LOT Network members to have opportunity to acquire select AST patent portfolios PHOENIX, ARIZONA -- September 8, 2020 -- The world’s two largest non-profit organizations offering...
Janett Lumbreras, Senior Associate at Uhthoff, gives an overview of the new Mexican IP Law
This year we have had big changes around the world that have changed the way we work. However, thinking of positive changes, Mexico has issued a new IP Law that will strengthen IP rights. This new Law will replace entirely the current Mexican Industrial...
Questel acquires RenewalsDesk
Questel announces the acquisition of RenewalsDesk, a UK-based company specializing in patent annuity services. RenewalsDesk was founded in 2013 by a patent owner who discovered high hidden fees with their former provider, with a mission to bring honesty and...
Mathys & Squire promotes trio of new partners to drive growth in life sciences, IT & engineering sectors
Leading intellectual property firm Mathys & Squire LLP has announced the promotion of attorneys David Hobson, Juliet Redhouse and Andrew White to the partnership. The firm now has 30 partners and 10 offices across the UK and Europe. Working in the life sciences...
Unwired Planet v Huawei FRAND judgment
The judgment by the UK Supreme Court in the dispute between Unwired Planet, Huawei et al, covering two appeals by cell phone manufacturers (implementers) of wireless technologies, is a landmark case in the area of Standard Essential Patents (“SEPs”) and FRAND...
Patent types explained: utility, design, and plant
The canny entrepreneur should have a solid understanding of the importance of IP. Here, Josh Gerben, founder of Gerben Law Firm, PLLC, explains the three different types of patents available to inventors in the US, and outlines how to apply for them. A patent is a...
Clarivate to combine with CPA Global
In a significant move, Clarivate has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to combine with CPA Global. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2020. CPA Global currently provides IP management and technology solutions to more than...
Anaqua launches dedicated law firm business unit
In a bid to address the diverse needs of today’s global law firms, IP management software company Anaqua has launched a new Anaqua Law Firms business unit and announced three senior hires. The move, says Anaqua, underscores the company’s commitment to the law firm...
USPTO launches COVID-19 Response Resource Center
In the latest in a series of steps intended to bring calm to the US IP landscape in the face of coronavirus, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has launched a “COVID-19 Response Resource Center” to “provide stakeholders and other interested parties...
Apple patents “synthetic group selfies”
In what, with hindsight, seems like an obvious innovation in our socially distanced, locked down age, California tech giant Apple has successfully applied for a US patent for “synthetic group selfies”. Apple’s patent, granted on 2 June by the USPTO, covers the...
China Life Sciences collaboration for Rouse and Codex
International IP firm Rouse and Life Sciences services provider Codex have announced a collaboration that is intended to support life sciences companies accessing the Chinese market. The rapid spread of COVID-19 has intensified the global search for treatments,...
“Eureka” for COVID-19 test inventor
The inventor of a ground-breaking COVID-19 test described his “eureka moment” when he realized he could adapt existing tech to create a rapid virus test. Professor Chris Toumazou is the co-founder of DnaNudge, which produces App technology that uses DNA and lifestyle...
USPTO may prioritize COVID-19 applications
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has asked for comments on its proposal to fast-track patent applications relating to COVID-19 – a so-called Prioritized Examination Pilot Program (PEPP). In a statement released on its website, the USPTO says that...
Renewed calls for a unified EU patent system
Despite, or maybe because of recent high-profile blows to the planned implementation of such a system, EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton has once again called upon Member States to move forward with a unified EU patent. Breton’s call comes at a time when...
WHO wants a COVID patent pool?
The annual world health assembly, the forum through which the World Health Organization (WHO) is governed and an event which involves almost every country in the world, began (via videolink) on 18 May. At the top of the agenda is, of course, the current COVID-19...
Mental Health Awareness Week – LawCare shares COVID-19 data
With it currently being Mental Health Awareness Week (18-24 May), legal mental health charity LawCare has released data on all the COVID-19 related contacts it has received to date. In total, 48 legal professionals have contacted the charity with issues related to...
The latest from KnowIt 2020
The 2020 KnowIt annual event, to which The Patent Lawyer is the official media partner, is currently Livestreaming from 10 am EST until May 13. This three-day event aims to bring together the community of creators and protectors of intellectual property and other...
Annual Patent and Trademark Attorney Salary Survey 2020
The Patent Lawyer is partnering with Fellows and Associates to bring you the 9th Annual Patent and Trademark Attorney Salary Survey 2020. This survey aims to analyze the current remuneration packages available for Patent and Trademark Attorneys. As such, all...
Innovation surge needed to address climate change, says WIPO
A new WIPO report, released to coincide with World IP Day on Sunday 26 April, has highlighted the fact that innovation in environmentally friendly technologies as measured by international patent applications barely rose in 2019, prompting a call from WIPO Director...
World IP day – small entities, big impact
With World IP Day 2020 celebrating the theme of a greener future, when it comes to innovation in green technology, it is not just the major corporations that are making the difference. A lot of smaller entities are also working on technologies that could have a...
British government indemnifies ventilator manufacturers
The British government has announced that UK firms manufacturing ventilators for use in combating the COVIC-19 pandemic will be protected by the government from the financial impact of potential legal claims arising over intellectual property infringements or personal...
Spin Master awarded highest-ever patent infringement damages for foreign plaintiff in China
Leading global children’s entertainment company, Spin Master, has won a major victory in a long-running patent dispute against one of the most prominent toy producers in China, resulting in the largest damages ever awarded to a foreign patent owner. In a first...
India – extensions and lockdowns
In light of current global events, and in line with many other jurisdictions, the Indian Supreme Court has extended the limitation period for the filing of suits, appeals, and applications in all proceedings before any court, tribunal, or authority in India. The...
Financial heart attack for Amarin
In a decisive and damaging blow for the Irish pharmaceutical giant, a US Federal Court decision has ruled that six patents owned by Amarin Corporation, and used in its successful drug VASCEPA, are invalid. VASCEPA, a treatment for cardiovascular disease originally...
Experts react to “unconstitutional” Unified Patent Court
The future of Europe’s Unified Patent Court (UPC) seems increasingly in doubt. First, the British Government confirmed that it would not seek membership of the Court following Brexit, and now Germany’s intended involvement has been deemed “unconstitutional”. The UPC...
EUIPO and EPO extend deadlines
Given the enormous, and growing, disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Patent Office (EPO) has taken the decision to extend all deadlines for application until 17 April 2020. The decision was announced in a Notice dated 17 March, which stated that...
EPO Patent Index 2019 – AI and 5G drive growth
The recently published European Patent Office (EPO) Patent Index 2019 Annual Report contains various headline findings, including: A 4% annual growth in the number of EPO patent applications in 2019. EPO States now account for 45% of patent applications (with Germany,...
UK turns its back on Unified Patent Court
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the British Government has confirmed that it will not be seeking membership of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) following Brexit. Publishing its negotiating objectives for any future relationship between the UK and the EU, the Government has also...
Quibi sues Eko over trade secrets claim
Following claims that it stole trade secrets, US mobile video platform Quibi, founded in 2018 by Jeffrey Katzenberg and due to launch on 6 April, has launched legal proceedings against tech company Eko, denying patent infringement and stating that the latter “embarked...
Derwent report shows fragmented patent landscape
According to the latest Derwent Top 100 Global Innovators report, released by Clarivate Analytics, the emergence of market disrupters is fragmenting the global patent landscape and diluting the invention market share of leading innovators. Rapid change has seen large...
Supreme Court victory for VirnetX
In what represents an enormous, and expensive, blow for Apple, the US Supreme Court has declined to consider the tech giant’s appeal from a recent Court of Appeal decision, in which it was held that Apple could not proceed with patent invalidation claims against...
Neodron strikes again
Controversial Irish patent-holding company Neodron has launched a patent infringement action against Apple in the US District Court, claiming that four of its patents have been used without permission by Apple in the capacitive touchscreens used in Apple's iPhone 11...
USPTO patent statistics saw upward trend in 2019
The total number of patents granted in the United States has been more-or-less static over the last five years. However, that trend came seemed to come to an end last year. New 2019 USPTO patent statistics analysis, carried out using Anaqua’s AcclaimIP patent search...
AI and IP – the WIPO consultation
The World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) is currently undertaking a public consultation on AI and IP, seeking comments from interested parties on the likely impact of AI on IP law and practice. Saiful Khan, partner and specialist electronics and computing patent...
Apple loses latest VirnetX action
It has been nearly ten years since Apple and VirnetX first locked horns in patent litigation. VirnetX, a Nevada-based security technology company, holds patents for tech used in secure communications – patents that, VirnetX has alleged in proceedings against both...
WiLan awarded $85 million against Apple
A California jury has ruled against Apple in its most recent skirmish with Canadian intellectual property licensing company WiLan, finding that the tech giant owes the latter some $85 million in damages. WiLan has been involved in patent proceedings against Apple,...
Nintendo patent verdict overturned
Long-running proceedings against gaming behemoth Nintendo have concluded in the company’s favor after a US federal court found that the Kyoto-based company did not infringe motion-control patents held by iLife Technologies Inc, a Dallas tech company that has developed...
Pharmaceutical companies are the “big winners” from US-China trade deal
Whether the recent US-China trade deal will have the desired effect of ending the acrimonious trade war between the two countries remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the deal will have consequences for IP matters such as pharmaceutical patents, and...
Big changes to Saudi IP hearings
The Saudi justice minister Walid Al-Samaani has announced that, from February, patent and copyright cases will be heard by commercial courts and/or committees established within those courts. Previously, such cases were heard by two committees, constituted to examine...
Philips bid to block US Fitbit sales
The US International Trade Commission (USITC) has voted to institute an investigation of certain wearable monitoring devices manufactured by, amongst others, Fitbit and Garmin. The investigation follows a complaint filed by Philips North America, alleging violations...
Masimo alleges Apple Watch infringement
Masimo, the California-based patient-monitoring technology manufacturer, has brought patent infringement proceedings against Apple in the US District Court, claiming that the multinational’s Apple Watch infringes upon ten of its patents. Further, Masimo alleges that...
Airbnb using patented tech to identify “psychopaths”
Following a patent application last year, Airbnb is now using advanced AI-powered software gained from its acquisition of tech startup Trooly to run social media background checks on potentially “untrustworthy” bookers. The “trait-analyzing” software uses bespoke...
EPO rejects applications from AI inventor
The European Patent Office (EPO) has, in a landmark decision, rejected two patent applications designating an artificial intelligence, rather than a human being, as the inventor. Both applications named the neural-net AI “DABUS” as the creator of, respectively, an...