Clear Advice

We communicate our advice to clients clearly, without hiding behind legal jargon. Intellectual property rights are frequently complex. The issues that arise are rarely straightforward. As in many fields, some use of specialist terminology is unavoidable. Within these constraints we strive always to express ourselves clearly and concisely.

News

Poland became a member of the Hague Agreement for Industrial designs on 2nd July 2009.

San Marino became the 36th member state of the EPC on 1st July 2009.

The European Patent Office is now accepting applications for the European Inventor Award 2010. If you are interested in being entered for this competition, please contact your usual representative at Mathys & Squire.

The Madrid Protocol will enter into force in Eqypt on 3rd September 2009.

Alison Brimelow has announced that she will not stand for re-election as President of the EPO.

On 1st May 2009 OHIM reduced its official fees by 40%. Please see the Legal Updates section of our website for further details.

The London Agreement has so far entered into force in Croatia, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, France, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Iceland, Monaco, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

The EPO has begun 2009 by announcing significant changes to patent practice regarding divisional applications. The changes will come into force in April 2010. Please see the Legal Updates section of our website for further details.

Over 1,000,000 international trademarks have been registered since the first in 1893 by Swiss Chocolate-maker Russ-Suchard & Company.

The Patent Cooperation Treaty entered into force in Chile on 2nd March 2009.

Mathys & Squire will celebrate its centenary in 2010.

Sweden has indicated that the creation of a single community patent is a priority issue during its six-month Presidency of the EU, which began in July 2009.

International patent filings rose by 2.4% in 2008 to 164,000.

The Patent Cooperation Treaty entered into force in Peru on 6th June 2009.

The London Agreement entered into force for Lithuania on 1st May 2009, making it the 15th EPO member state to accede to the agreement.

The UK government has appointed John Alty as the new chief executive of the IP Office.