Legal Updates

European Developments

• Fee Increases at the EPO
  
  The EPO has begun 2008 by announcing a number of increases to their official fees. Most of the changes come into force in April 2008, but some have been delayed until April 2009
  
  More...
   
• Reduction in translation costs at the EPO
  
  The EPO has confirmed that the London Agreement will come into force on 1 May 2008. This will result in a significant reduction in the cost of validating a European patent post grant
  
  Click here for details...
   
• Europe accedes to the Hague Agreement
  
  The European Community acceded to the Hague Agreement relating to registered designs on 1st January 2008
  
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• EPC 2000
  
  The EPC 2000 came into force on 13 December 2007
  
  Click here for further details
   
• Other European developments
  
  Malta became an EPC and a PCT contracting state on 1 March 2007
  
  Last year the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia submitted a request for an accession invitation, and the Council granted observer status to Bosnia and Herzegovina and to Serbia and Montenegro
  
  Croatia and Norway became EPC states on 1 Jan 2008.
   

UK Developments

• Following Kitchen J's decision in Astron Clinica the UK-IPO has altered its practice regarding claims to computer program products. In accordance with a new practice notice, computer program claims will be allowed where the equivalent main method or apparatus claims are allowable
  
  Click here to view the new UK-IPO Practice Notice
   
• Ian Fletcher, formerly Managing Director of the International Directorate in UK Trade and Investment, is now Chief Executive of the UK Intellectual Property Office
   
• On 2 April 2007 The UK Patent Office changed its name to the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office
   
• The Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) between the UK and Japan opened on 03/07/07.
  
  The PPH will allow patent applicants who have received an examination report by either the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO) or the Japan Patent Office (JPO) to request accelerated examination of a corresponding patent application filed in the other country.
  
  Details relating to the procedures for filing such requests are available on the UK-IPO website:
  UK Procedure or JPO Procedure

International Developments

• Recent changes to Japanese law mean that design protection is now available for 20 years rather than the previous 15.
   
• Yemen has recently acceded to the Paris Convention, allowing applicants to claim priority on filing.