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In today's highly competitive business environment, intellectual property (IP) is one of the most valuable assets a company can possess. From patents and trade marks to trade secrets and design rights, intellectual property forms the backbone of a company's innovation, branding, market position and success. However, many businesses fail to fully understand or manage their intellectual property assets effectively. This is where an IP Audit comes into play. An IP Audit is a systematic review of a company's intellectual property…
Can You Patent Software or an App? Here’s What You Need to Know We are asked routinely whether it is possible for a business or individual to patent software and obtain legal protection for it. In today's tech-driven world, software and applications are at the heart of many innovations. If you have developed a new piece of software or an application, one of the first questions you may ask yourself is: Can I patent this? The answer to patenting software…
Romania will join the Unitary Patent system with effect from 1 September 2024. This brings to 18 the number of countries participating in the Unitary Patent system (all of which are necessarily member states of the European Union). Consequently, European patents for which a request for unitary effect is registered from 1 September 2024 will automatically cover all 18 countries (i.e., including Romania). Such patents are referred to as “Unitary Patents”. It should be noted that the territorial…
The European Patent Office (EPO) has recently announced a new fee system aimed at bolstering support for small enterprises and individual inventors. This initiative, effective from the 1st April 2024, offers discounts of 30% on various fees for European patent applications made by so-called "micro-entities", which are defined as being either (a) companies with fewer than 10 employees and a turnover under €2m, or, (b) individual inventors. The move aligns with the EPO's commitment to fostering innovation and easing the…
Patent attorneys in the UK are reporting a significant increase in requests for advice and assistance in protecting new inventions over recent months. This is being attributed by some to the coronavirus (Covid-19) lockdown in the UK and it seems likely that there are several possible reasons for the apparent surge in inventive activity:- a) The lockdown has resulted in a large number of people working from home, many of them doing so for the first time. It is therefore…
Your most valuable asset Every business is affected by IP to a greater or lesser extent. Although intangible, IP is often the most valuable asset of a company or business, sometimes making up over 80% of the balance sheet. IP creates a trading advantage and sets your business apart from competitors. Protect your hard work and abolish future hassle By protecting IP rights, you can prevent competitors from piggy backing on your hard work and innovation. Securing adequate protection to…
Bright ideas from inventors across Europe were recognised at the European Patent Office Inventor Awards 2016 recently. Teams from Germany, Denmark and France were among those recognised for their innovation, alongside a US winner in the Non-European countries category. Celebrating 10 years of Innovation The Awards, which began in 2006, recognise both individuals and teams of inventors whose work seeks to solve significant issues. An independent panel of judges representing science, academia, business and research examine each entry across a…
As you will be aware following a National referendum the UK has voted to leave the European Union. This will have a significant impact on UK business practices and legislation including intellectual property. Whilst change is inevitable in the longer term, for the time being it is business as usual for UK Plc. The UK will only cease to be a member of the EU once Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty is invoked and subsequent withdrawal negotiations are concluded. …
US Patent No. 821,393 was granted to the pioneering brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, 110 years ago; and disappeared after being loaned to the Smithsonian Museum by the US National Archives in 1980. Now, all these years later, it has been rediscovered in a limestone cave in Kansas. Original Patent Paperwork The paperwork shows that the Wright brothers were canny as well as inventive: the patent application was filed nine months before their ‘flying machine’ had even been successfully airborne.…
New rules proposed by the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry are designed to streamline the examination procedure for patent applications at the Indian Patent Office. The proposed new rules went out to public consultation in November 2015, with changes expected to come into force during 2016. Shorter Period for Putting Application in Order for Grant The most important changes contained in the draft Patents (Amendment) Rules 2015 are those to the examination procedure, with a focus on reducing the…