Contentious Expertise

We have extensive experience of contentious matters. Partners of the firm have litigated IP enforcement actions; have ran global IP licensing schemes; have set legal precedents; and have negotiated multi-million pound settlements. We have attorneys who are also qualified as solicitors and we have Patent Agent Litigators. We are well placed to take advantage of the rights of representation now afforded to patent attorneys in the UK courts.

News

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...

Ian Fletcher, formerly Managing Director of the International Directorate in UK Trade and Investment, is now Chief Executive of the UK Intellectual Property Office

Yemen has recently acceded to the Paris Convention, allowing applicants to claim priority on filing

The EPC 2000 came into force on 13 December 2007

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

Recent changes to Japanese law mean that design protection is now available for 20 years rather than the previous 15

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

The European Community accedes to the Hague Agreement on 1st January 2008. This means that nationals of EC member states, and companies having a commercial interest in an EC state, may apply for International registered design protection via...

Croatia and Norway became EPC states on 1 Jan 2008

The EPO has confirmed that the London Agreement will come into force on 1 May 2008

The London Agreement will come into force on 1 May 2008 significantly reducing the translation costs for the validation of European Costs