Partner
European Patent Attorney
Chartered Patent Attorney
M.A. (Cambridge), Natural Sciences
Adam has worked in the intellectual property profession since 1987, specialising in patents and registered and unregistered design work. His aim is to help clients protect their R&D and maintain and improve their market position, in particular by obtaining and defending their own patents and clearing the way in respect of third-party patents.
Acting for start-ups, SMEs and multinationals, Adam advises on patentability and infringement (both for enforcement and defensive purposes), licensing, meeting requirements of various standards authorities, and portfolio management generally. Adam is very conscious of the different requirements, and budgets, of different types of organisations.
His professional experience includes drafting and prosecution of patent applications to grant, and oppositions and appeals in the European Patent Office. Adam obtains patents for clients in the UK and European Patent Offices, as well as in many other countries. He has good knowledge and experience of US patent law in particular.
Adam covers the following technical areas:
NewsCase Studies
Tue 14th Mar 2023
Shedding (near-infrared) light on human brain activityPage White Farrer was engaged to ensure that valuable intellectual property of Gowerlabs was properly captured and protected.
Mon 20th Jun 2022
Should I register a product design? Or can I rely on copyright?For any business which is launching a new product, tough decisions need to be made about where to invest your (often scarce) financial resources. Should you attend this trade fair? Or visit more suppliers? Invest in more marketing or build up the sales team?
Tue 13th Apr 2021
Unregistered design right after Brexit - First publication in the UK vs. first publication in the EU - Registered DesignsWhen the UK left the EU, new intellectual property rights and exclusions were created in the system of protection for designs. These changes mean that companies and designers have some important choices to make about where to disclose designs first; whether to register designs; and if so, where to register their designs first. Adam Flint, Oliver Spies and David Roberts highlight the three key lessons for design owners.
Wed 25th Nov 2020
UK IPO demands UK address for service from 1 January 2021Subject to final legislative implementation, from 1 January 2021 you will need an address for service in the UK, Gibraltar or the Channel Islands for new UK patent, registered trade mark and registered design applications, for granted EP(UK) patents if a representative for the proprietor is to be appointed, and for any proceedings concerning patents. An address for service in the EEA will no longer be acceptable.
Tue 16th Jun 2020
Patent briefing: termination of the automatic exchange of priority documents between European and Japanese Patent OfficesThe EPO has announced a change in the systems for exchanging priority documents electronically with the JPO which means that the electronic exchange of priority documents will no longer be automatic from January 2022.
Fri 27th Mar 2020
Patents and UK IPO changes to services under Covid-19 disruptionThe UKIPO issued details of changes to their services on 27 March 2020 as a result of the disruption to applicants’ businesses and the ability to receive and send post during the current coronavirus pandemic.
Fri 24th Jan 2020
CRISPR gene editing patent held invalid by EPO Board of Appeal on technical pointThe European Patent Office (EPO) Board of Appeal has given its decision in case T844/18 regarding the CRISPR gene editing patent owned by the Broad Institute, MIT and Harvard College, declaring the patent invalid over prior art that was only citeable because some of the patent’s priority claims were not valid.
Mon 11th Jun 2018
3D designs from outside the EU will need to be registered in the UK post-BrexitSubject to any transitional arrangements or other changes in law following Brexit, scheduled for 29 March 2019 when the United Kingdom will leave the European Union, there will be no copyright or unregistered design right protection in the UK for the 3‑dimensional aspects of industrial designs for nationals of most non‑EU countries. This includes nationals of, amongst others, the US, Canada, Australia, China, Japan and South Korea.
Wed 18th Apr 2018
UKIPO softens on ‘technical contribution’ requirement for patentable subject matterAdam Flint examines the UKIPO’s approach to Landmark Graphics Corporation’s application to patent geological computer software and the requirement for a technical contribution.
Fri 30th Sep 2016
IPO reduces registered design fees for electronic applicationsThe fees for registering a design and renewals have been reduced. The UK Intellectual Property Office will allow applicants to register with online forms for a reduced fee of £50 and renew registered designs for a significant reduction.
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