International reach

Fri 16th Sep 2022

We have updated our useful map showing the options for registering a patent across 44 European states under the European Patent Convention as the European Patent Organisation welcomes Montenegro to its growing number of member states from 1 October 2022.

Wed 20th Jul 2022

The process of setting up the Unified Patent Court is gaining momentum after a number of significant decisions were made at the meeting on 8 July 2022.

Mon 18th Jul 2022

On 3 October 2022, amendments to Canadian Patent Rules will come into force, introducing changes to patent prosecution in Canada.

Tue 12th Jul 2022

On 17 June 2022, members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) reached an agreement to suspend patent protection for the production and supply of Covid-19 vaccines with the aim of increasing access to Covid-19 vaccines in developing countries.

Wed 4th May 2022

On 5 May 2022, the Geneva text of the Hague Agreement (1999) will enter into force in China.  This will enable applicants seeking registered design protection via the Hague system to designate China, as well as up to 93 other countries, when filing a Hague design application. 

Thu 3rd Mar 2022

USPTO report examines overall patenting trends as well as trends in patent filings and value indicators in the four most-patented 5G-related technologies.

Thu 16th Dec 2021

Top of the IP strategy agenda for any patent owners in 2022 should be the Unified Patent Court (UPC) and the unitary patent (UP), according to Olaf Ungerer, a German and European Patent Attorney in Munich.

Fri 26th Nov 2021

Our patent attorneys highlight some of the information that you need to provide to ensure that your assignment sails through at the EPO without delay.

Tue 9th Nov 2021

Patent attorney Roona Deb, specialising in life sciences, explores EPO’s move to address ambiguity over post-published data in proving a patent’s inventive step.

Mon 1st Nov 2021

If set up and administered well, patent pools can provide significant benefits for the market, such as reductions in transaction costs, more reasonable aggregate royal-ties, and a better ability to create a level playing field. These benefits can make pa-tent pools an attractive option for standard-based licensing where there are multiple licensors holding SEPs.

Wed 6th Oct 2021

James Cornish, head of the trade mark team at Page White Farrer, outlines key steps that you need to take in the trade mark registration process.

Fri 10th Sep 2021

One of the greatest concerns regarding the use of patent pools, especially by technology giants, is that collaboration can also lead to anti-competitive practices.  So, while patent pools have many benefits, especially for emerging technologies, the risks cannot be ignored.

Wed 4th Aug 2021

Patent pools have a long history, and one of the first patent pools was formed in 1856 for sewing machines.  These days they form an important part of the basis for industry standards in regard to technologies which are necessary (essential) to develop compatible products and services. Examples can be seen in the fields of mobile communications, information coding, public health etc. and they often relate to technologies that are yet to be fully developed.

Thu 22nd Jul 2021

Where a company is developing technology which needs to adhere to industry-wide standards, then it may be advantageous or necessary to participate in a patent pool.

Wed 14th Jul 2021

Yet another step forward has been made towards the establishment of the Unified Patent Court, with the rejection by the German Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) of the two applications for preliminary injunction against the ratification Bill of the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court.

Tue 13th Apr 2021

When 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.

Tue 22nd Dec 2020

In its last meeting last Friday, the Federal Council in Germany approved the Agreement on a European Patent Court (UPCA).

Mon 7th Dec 2020

If you have established some strong marketing channels, with an extensive database, good customer knowledge and a productive sales engine, you may be on the lookout for new products which might compliment your existing portfolio.

Wed 25th Nov 2020

Subject 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.

Fri 25th Sep 2020

This is a brief note on the position concerning how EU-wide trade marks and EU-wide registered designs will be affected by Brexit from 1 January 2021. The advice below is applicable to trade marks and designs equally.

Please note the European Patent Office is not an EU institution and European patents and patent applications are not affected by Brexit.

This is a very important notice for the owners of EU-wide trade marks and designs. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Fri 17th Jul 2020

By 17 June 2020, according to Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), some $11.4 billion had been donated to help tackle the COVID-19 outbreak.

Large donations have been made by some of the world’s leading companies and foundations, and universities are racing to develop a vaccine.

Tue 16th Jun 2020

The 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.

Mon 1st Jun 2020

In an article for The Times Higher Education (published May 30, 2020), intellectual property strategists Virginia Driver and Tom Woodhouse have urged universities to guard their IP rights to ensure COVID-19 innovations reach the vulnerable in poorer nations.

Mon 27th Apr 2020

Invalidation is the legal procedure which allows anyone to try and remove a trade mark from a register and can relate to the entire registration, or only some of the goods or services covered by the trade mark. This is important if:

Tue 21st Apr 2020

Sometimes you expect something to happen, but it still surprises you when it does occur.

Wed 8th Apr 2020

We hope that you are keeping well and are settling into this new way of working.

Mon 23rd Mar 2020

Progress towards a Unified Patent Court for Europe has been dealt a blow after the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany declared the ‘Act of Approval’ void.

Wed 11th Mar 2020

Finding and entering new markets is key to the growth of any business, whether this is selling to a new industry sector or into a foreign territory. But this can be time-consuming and labour intensive and difficult to do well if you do not have anyone who speaks the language, understands the sector or is familiar with differences in the cultural or regulatory environment.

Fri 22nd Mar 2019

Amidst the ongoing uncertainty regarding Brexit, this is the current position and the anticipated effects of Brexit on trade marks and designs.

Tue 25th Sep 2018

On 24 September, the UK government released its latest pre-Brexit updates for businesses in regard to the implications for intellectual property. These papers outline the situation in the event of a ‘no deal’ scenario, explain the implications for businesses in the UK, the EU and other countries, and they highlight any actions which are required by businesses and other stakeholders.

Mon 24th Sep 2018

With a history dating back to the Sumerians, Egyptians and Celts - there is still much work going on to optimize beer production with new inventions in the field of brewing, particularly in Germany.

Mon 2nd Jul 2018

The outcome, implications and effect of Brexit remain unknown and unclear. However on 19 March 2018 the European Commission published a draft agreement indicating terms that have been agreed with the UK in the event of a wider agreement concerning Brexit and those yet to be agreed.

Mon 11th Jun 2018

Subject 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.

Fri 25th May 2018

The UK has recently ratified the Unified Patent Court Agreement (UPCA) and the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities (PPI). Olaf Ungerer discusses the the impact that this will have on Brexit negotiations.

Mon 7th May 2018

Last year saw yet another period of growth for the Hague System as the international registration body for the protection of industrial designs.

Thu 5th Apr 2018

At this year’s iF seminar in London, Virginia Driver was one of a panel of three industry experts discussing the potential for UK SMEs to become leaders in innovation, research and development. The panel discussed a wide variety of topics, including entrepreneurship, patent protection and keys to success.

Sun 1st Apr 2018

The Hague Agreement or Hague System, is a procedure that allows for the international registration of industrial designs through a single application filed at the International Bureau (IB) of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

Sun 1st Apr 2018

The UK has ratified the Unified Patent Court Agreement, an international treaty which provides for a single judgment on patent disputes across all the states which have signed up to it.

Thu 1st Mar 2018

Patent attorney David Roberts reviews the CJEU judgement C-361/15 - Easy Sanitary Solutions v Group Nivelles and give some background and implications of the case.

Fri 23rd Feb 2018

The European Patent Office (EPO) and the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) met on 24 January to confirm that Brexit will have no effect on UK membership of the EPO, or on European patents in the UK.

Wed 28th Jun 2017

This week, the Unified Patent Court took one step forward in the UK with the publication of remaining draft legislation, but came to a standstill in Germany, where a law suit has brought proceedings to a pause.

Tue 13th Jun 2017

The long-awaited entry into operation of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) will not meet its target date of December 2017, as previously expected. Instead, the preparatory committee forecasts that the Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court will be delayed until sometime in 2018, at the earliest.

Mon 27th Mar 2017

IP Inclusive, a diversity movement which helps make intellectual property professions more inclusive, has been awarded with the Corporate Social Responsibility Award at the Managing IP Awards.

Fri 10th Feb 2017

For British designers, China is an important manufacturing location for British-designed products as the fast-growing economy creates increasing demand. However, those looking to take advantage of this demand should first ensure that they have considered the intellectual property risks that China presents.

Wed 11th Jan 2017

As your business grows and you expand into new markets, then there will be strategic decisions to take about how best to manage your international portfolio of trade marks. One key consideration is whether to take advantage of a seniority claim.

Mon 5th Dec 2016

The results of a recent EU-wide study have been published by the European Patent Office and the EU Intellectual Property Office. The study analysed the impact of intellectual property rights (IPRs) on the European economy in terms of gross domestic product, employment, wages and trade.

Thu 1st Dec 2016

For British research institutions and businesses looking to benefit from the UK-China technology transfer, there are a number of best practice methods for intellectual property that should be considered.

Tue 29th Nov 2016

The UK government has finally ended months of speculation about what, if any, part the UK will play in the establishment of the Unified Patent Court following the country’s decision earlier this year to leave the EU.

Fri 4th Nov 2016

The Madrid international application system for trade marks offers a money-saving, convenient and simple scheme for brand owners who want to protect their trademarks in numerous countries.

Fri 23rd Sep 2016

There is now a legal path to ensuring the UK’s continued participation in the Unified Patent Court and the Unitary Patent following our exit from the European Union according to the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys and counsel opinion.

Mon 19th Sep 2016

The UK intellectual property minister has returned from a trip to China to reinforce the strength of a collaboration between the UK and China on intellectual property, and to highlight the importance of this collaboration in supporting creativity and innovation in both countries.

Fri 16th Sep 2016

In a recent blog, Benoît Battistelli, president of the European Patent Office, shared his predictions for the future of the unitary patent package following the UK’s decision to leave the European Union.

Wed 14th Sep 2016

The European Patent Office are extending their efficiency scheme, ‘Early Certainty from Search’ to examination and opposition of patents. The improved scheme aims to prioritise the conclusion of grants and reduce the duration of the opposition procedure.

Wed 31st Aug 2016

In a new position paper entitled The impact of Brexit on intellectual property, the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) has explained its position on the Unitary Patent and the Unified Patent Court as well as for a range of intellectual property issues that are likely to be affected by Brexit.

Tue 30th Aug 2016

Following recent media reports stating that English would cease to be an official language of the European Union in the event of a UK withdrawal, a statement has been released on behalf of the European Union Commission’s representation in Ireland.

Tue 1st Mar 2016

Changes are being made to the European Union trade mark registration system. In this article, James Cornish, trademarks specialist at Page White and Farrer, highlights some of the key changes. Most changes take effect on 23 March 2016.

Sat 23rd Jan 2016

As the country and the UK government get to grips with the implications of the UK’s vote to leave the European Union, what are the implications for intellectual property?