8th Apr 2021
As climate change and the energy transition drive fundamental shifts in technology, industry, investment and regulatory policy, innovation and technology have never played a more important role. In this article, we discuss how climate change and the energy transition are driving these shifts, the technologies needed to meet net-zero and how this is reflected by patent filings in renewable energy field. We gather the perspectives of leaders and decision makers in the fields of energy, technology, business and government, presenting at the recent CERAWeek 2021 conference.
26th Mar 2021
We reported back in September that the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) set out a call for views on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to understand the implications AI might have for Intellectual Property (IP) policy. The UKIPO set out questions relating to each of: patents, copyright, designs, trade marks, and trade secrets. In the government’s words, the aim of the call for views was to understand the relationship between AI and IP. It did not seek to consider the impact of concepts such as AI superintelligence, or an AI as a legal entity. The call for views indicated a willingness to listen, and it was hoped that this would be beneficial for patentees, as well as the AI industry as a whole.
25th Mar 2021
Transmitting solar energy generated in space back to Earth has long been the subject of science fiction, first appearing in Isaac Asimov’s 1941 short story, Reason, where solar energy is converted to microwaves by a space station, and beamed back to nearby planets.
16th Mar 2021
Earlier this month WIPO, the World Intellectual Property Organization, released some key facts and figures and a press release relating to the number of patent applications that were filed in 2020 under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). The PCT system allows an applicant to file a single PCT (or “international”) application through which patent protection […]
16th Mar 2021
We attended oral proceedings last month on case T1807/15 and learned that the Board of Appeal would make a referral to the EPO’s Enlarged Board of Appeal on video conference oral proceedings without parties’ consent. We have received a copy of the written interlocutory decision of the Board of Appeal. We now know that a single question has been referred to the Enlarged Board:
11th Mar 2021
This week, the UK government launched 3 new innovation challenges in the green energy sector, with £92 million allocated in funding. The initiative is part of the government’s £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio to drive forward the next generation of technologies which will help decarbonise the energy sector in the UK. It also forms part of the UK Governments 10 point plan, launched last year, to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
10th Mar 2021
The EPO’s Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBA) has today (10 March 2021) issued their decision on case G1/19 (simulations), regarding the patentability of computer simulations. Their decision does not rule out patenting computer simulations in Europe. As we have discussed previously, the referral to the EBA arose from an appeal considering the patentability of an […]
19th Feb 2021
On 22nd August 1851, a single schooner from the New York Yacht Club triumphed over half a dozen British yachts in a sailing race around this Isle of Wight. Queen Victoria looked on, and was reportedly not amused with the result. The winning yacht was awarded a silver jug, which became known as the America’s Cup. The ‘Auld Mug’ is the oldest trophy in international sport, and the 36th America’s Cup regatta is due to take place next month. The qualifying rounds are currently being raced off the coast of Auckland, New Zealand, and this patent attorney has been watching the action.