As a matter of public policy, the national governments in Europe have decided that vets and doctors should be allowed to treat their patients without protecting one method of surgery or therapy over another. Click here
In a recent decision of the Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office, a surprising step was taken by the enlarged board to effectively abolish Swiss type medical use claims in Europe. Click here
It is becoming increasingly clear that both the Chinese Government and Chinese companies are taking intellectual property rights (IPRs) much more seriously today than in the past. Click here
A new initiative has been set up by the five largest Intellectual Property Offices around the world. “The Five IP Offices” (IP5) is an imaginatively named forum that has been set up to develop and implement ways of increasing work sharing between Intellectual Property Offices. Click here
A recent decision (OMEL - 15 January 2010) by the Benelux Office of Intellectual Property (BOIP) may unsettle those relying on Community Trade Mark (CTM) Registrations which are only “genuinely used” in a single EU member state. Click here
The European Patent Office has published further changes to the Rules that will come into force on 1 April 2010. Click here
Chancellor Alistair Darling's Pre-Budget Report contained an announcement that will be of interest to patentees. Click here
Gemstar had three patents and brought court proceedings against Virgin over the Electronic Program Guide (EPG) on Virgin's set-top boxes. Click here
Appleyard Lees' office in Sheffield has relocated onto Sheffield Technology Parks. Click here
Registered Community Trade Marks with a reputation in the Community potentially enjoy protection against infringement that takes unfair advantage of or causes detriment to that reputation. Click here
The European Patent Office (EPO) is in the process of selecting a new President to take over the reigns of running the Office when the current president, Alison Brimelow, comes to the end of her term of office in June 2010. Click here
Nicola Thompson is appearing on behalf of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys at the International Enterprise Promotion Convention in Harrogate on 15-17 November 2009. Click here
Congratulations are due to Mike Holmes and Paul Misselbrook, who each took a prize for scoring the best mark in part of last year's patent attorney qualification exams. Click here
