Insights

Articles Mar022023

Retained EU Plant Variety Rights in the UK now require UK address for service, or UK-based agent

Following 1 January 2024, the APHA will need an address for service in the UK, or the name and address of an agent in the UK, if they wish to continue to hold their Retained EU Plant Variety Right under UK legislation.

Articles Jan262023

UK registered trade mark and design holders must have a UK address for service

On 25 January 2023, the UK IPO issued a notice with immediate effect to say that the registrar will require a UK address for service (AFS) before any documents are considered formally served.

Fashion trade marks and registered designs

Articles Oct112022

Centralised European patent protection and enforcement is coming

The Unitary Patent (UP) and the Unified Patent Court (UPC) will enter into force on 1 June 2023, when the UPC Agreement (UPCA) is planned to enter into force. These new systems will centralise patent protection and enforcement within many EU countries.

Articles Sep132022

The Unitary Patent

This is the second article in our UP/UPC series and we discuss issues to consider when deciding whether to obtain a Unitary Patent (UP).

Articles Aug162022

Nowhere Co. Ltd v EUIPO (Case T-281/21) – UK rights in EU opposition and invalidity proceedings

UK trade mark rights can still be used to challenge EUIPO trade mark applications, the General Court has ruled.

Articles Jul042022

The UPC – advantages for SMEs and universities?

As an incentive for patent proprietors such as SMEs and universities to opt for the Unitary Patent, the new system has introduced the possibility of financial compensation for these proprietors in certain circumstances.

Articles May112022

Parallel imports: navigating the grey market

For brand owners, in particular in the pharmaceutical field, one of the most difficult trade arenas to navigate can be the grey market. Our guide to the grey market, what it is and when brand owners can stop grey market goods is below.

Articles Feb172022

When will the Unified Patent Court go live?

The Unitary Patent (UP) and the Unified Patent Court (UPC) go live on 1 June 2023, when the UPC Agreement (UPCA) enters into force.

Articles Dec312021

Protecting IP in plant-based ‘meat-substitutes’

Innovation in the plant-based meat sector is aiming to help to solve some of the problems associated with animal-meat production.

Articles Jun302021

Intellectual property for start-ups in a post-COVID world: part three – managing commercial IP

This series of articles explores the effect of COVID-19-related disruption on start-ups’ management and monetisation of intellectual property (IP), giving practical guidance to start-ups to improve and preserve their position

Articles Apr282021

Plant varieties post Brexit: protection in the UK

Brexit has changed the way intellectual property rights are sought and protected, in many ways. Pre-Brexit, anyone seeking to protect plant varieties in the UK and/or EU member states made a single application to the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO); however, as of 1 January 2021, this is no longer possible.