28th May 2021
The oral proceedings before the Enlarged Board of Appeal to discuss the question of whether oral proceedings by video conference can be appointed without the consent of the parties was held (by video conference) today. However, we are still no closer to finding out whether video conference can be used for all oral proceedings without […]
24th May 2021
Last week, amid unseasonably windy and wet weather in the UK, National Grid reported a new record share of electricity demand being produced by wind turbines (62.5 %) throughout Great Britain. In a timely coincidence, in the same week, the International Energy Agency (IEA) released a fascinating report on how a net zero (emissions) energy system may be achieved globally by 2050.
19th May 2021
The EPO’s Enlarged Board of Appeal has issued an interlocutory decision on G1/21, following which the composition of the Enlarged Board will change. Two members of the Enlarged Board, including the Enlarged Board’s current Chairman, will be replaced by two new members.
14th May 2021
Since 2006, the European Patent Office has recognised “the creativity of inventors the world over, who use their technical, scientific and intellectual skills to contribute to technological progress, thereby driving and economic growth and improving people’s daily lives” at the annual European Inventor Awards. Sadly the 2020 European Inventor Awards were cancelled, just like Eurovision. As a result, the 15 inventors and inventor teams on the 2020 shortlist (along with us, loyal fans) have waited a whole year to find out who will emerge victorious.
13th May 2021
Following on from my recent Blog of 7th May [insert link please], we are beginning to get preliminary reports of the Supreme Court’s Decision of 12th May 2021, concerning already-granted patents with a term of ten years from grant; in particular, whether these patents will retain this term.
11th May 2021
Graphical user interfaces (GUIs) are an increasingly important form of computer implemented invention. With the rise in applications relating to artificial Intelligence, big data and Fin-Tech, techniques for the effective capturing of input data (input GUIs) and visualization of complex processing (output GUIs) are essential. Further, as the trend of algorithm driven “black-boxes” continues, Graphical […]
7th May 2021
Brazilian IP Law previously provided that the term of a patent is the longest of 20 years from filing date or 10 years from date of grant. This ensures a minimum term of ten years from the grant date; it can be thought of, effectively, as an automatic “Patent Term Adjustment” to account for delays in prosecution by the Brazilian Intellectual Property Office.
5th May 2021
Renewable energy is more affordable now than it has ever been. According to BloombergNEF, it is now cheaper to build a new solar or wind farm to meet rising electricity demand or replace a retiring generator, than it is to build a new fossil fuel-fired plant. Policy incentives, increased investment and technological advances are driving this strong growth in the renewables sector, leading to technological improvements in the structural hardware necessary for renewable energy generation, transmission and storage.