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It has been announced that official fees charged by the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) will increase on 1st April 2026. The changes apply across the full range of patent, trade mark and design services. The last increases levied by the UKIPO were in 2018 for patent fees, 2016 for design fees and as far back as 1998 for trade mark fees. During that period, inflation has risen by about 32% and the UKIPO states that an increase has become…
Do you (or does your client) own a ‘cloned’ or ‘comparable’ UK trade mark right that was split from an EU trade mark registration (EUTM) at the end of the Brexit transition period? Since comparable UK rights were born from EUTMs, the UK introduced transitional rules for ‘use’ following Brexit. Currently, use of the EUTM anywhere in the EU before 1st January 2021 (whether in the UK or elsewhere in the EU) counts as use of the comparable UK right…
On 25th March 2025, Nyetimber Limited, a respected and prominent producer of English sparkling wine, initiated proceedings in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC) against Salcombe Distilling Co., alleging passing off. The dispute concerns the use by Salcombe of the stylised wording “Product of England” on its gin labels. Nyetimber alleges this use mimics the same term as it appears on its own labels. Nyetimber, which has produced English sparkling wine in the South Downs since 2006, has within its…
The United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) has released a new Practice Amendment Notice (PAN 1/25), effective 30th June 2025, which significantly alters the scope of examination of trade mark applications, and essentially, applications that may be deemed to included overly broad terms or extensive lists of goods and services. This development aims to in the UKIPO words "clarify the behaviour expected of trade mark applicants" and ensure that the goods and/or services listed under trade mark applications when filed…
We are excited to announce that Stevens Hewlett & Perkins (SH&P) is expanding into Wales with a new office presence at Tramshed Tech in Cardiff. Over the past year, we have built strong relationships across the Welsh innovation community working with a number of ambitious businesses, universities, and networks to support their intellectual property needs. This move marks the next step in our ongoing commitment to the Welsh innovative eco-system. We are proud to already be advising some brilliant Welsh…
(l-r) Camille Bates, Robin Webster, Robert Gaunt and Peter Cornford With a mix of gratitude and sadness, SH&P wish to announce the retirement of Robert Gaunt, who has left the firm after an incredible 43 years of service. Robert joined the SH&P London Office in 1982 and subsequently dual qualified as a patent and trade mark attorney. He has been a cornerstone of SH&P life over the last four decades and has contributed significantly to the fortunes of the firm…