28th Feb 2013
It finally looks like the Unitary Patent Package is on the way. Although the International agreement forming the Unified Patent Court has not yet been ratified, the latest draft of the agreement has been approved and signed by the European Council. So what does the agreement tell us about where infringement cases will be heard, […]
25th Feb 2013
Software developers often consider that copyright will put them in a strong position to protect their software. However, the limitations of relying on copyright to protect software have recently been highlighted in the case of SAS Institute Inc (SAS) v World Programming Limited (WPL) recently handed down by the High Court of England and Wales. By […]
20th Feb 2013
For innovative SMEs the task of coming up with new ideas is often the easy part. The on-going task of developing that idea into a viable, and profitable, product that is properly protected is often where SMEs have difficulties. And so we ask, can anybody help SME? The UK Government has a number of programmes […]
20th Feb 2013
On 15th January, the EPO opened a consultation period regarding possible changes which would allow applicants of European applications that are based on PCT applications (Euro-PCT applications) to have the EPO carry out additional searches where the EPO find a lack of unity of invention. The consultation period is set to end on 25th February. […]
12th Feb 2013
Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but if someone is copying your website you will want to take steps fast to have the website taken down, or at least to have the offending material removed from their site. The problem is that it can be very difficult to identify the person or organisation […]
12th Feb 2013
The United Kingdom government has announced its desire to negotiate a new settlement with our European partners leading up to a UK referendum with a simple question, should we be in, or out. The premise for such an approach, we are told, is that too many powers are centralised with the European Union that should, […]
11th Feb 2013
Since the inception of the European patent system back in the 1970s there has been a certain amount of discontent. The establishment of a central granting body, the European Patent Office (EPO), was a great accomplishment, but still resulted in individual national rights enforceable in each member state of the European Patent Convention. Enforcement required […]