Inside IP - Winter 2009/10

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Features:

• The Patent Prosecution Highway: where is it headed?

• Symbian: What the Patent Court and UK IPO did next

• Registered designs: The Hague Agreement explained

• The EPO clarifies upcoming restrictions on the division of European patent applications

Articles:

• Case study: A strategy for cost effective prosecution before the EPO

• The patentability of stem cells: A look at the UK and US situations

• No trade mark for non-royal organisation

• Electronic filing at the UK IPO now reduces costs

• Thailand accedes to the PCT

• San Marino joins the EPC

• Search and examination: Upcoming changes at the EPO

• Trade marks and copyright: Points to remember when using branding consultants

• L’Oréal -v- eBay

• Who has priority?  (or, getting your priorities straight)

• London Agreement update

• Unfair advantage and detriment in trade mark infringement: Register your shape marks

• Intellectual property is getting greener

• The UK IPO “Green Channel”

• Patent forums: Shop at the EPO

• EPO finalises agreement with IEEE

• Litigation costs in intellectual property cases

Venner Shipley News:

• Free Live IP webinar event

• Making Headway

• Venner Shipley recognised as “outstanding” by The Legal 500

• Venner Shipley in the press

• Venner Shipley enters British 10K run in aid of Cecily’s Fund

• Venner Shipley @ The Brand Protection Show

A Word from The Editor

The European Patent Office (EPO) is such a large and well-established organisation that it can change direction no more quickly than an oil tanker.  Having said that, the current President Alison Brimelow had change in her sights when she took the helm in 2007 and changes still are coming through, as is evidenced by the many articles in this newsletter.  Whatever your view of the current President, things will not be the same after she leaves in summer 2010.

The EPO theme of this newsletter (see the articles highlighted left) is complemented by articles on recent trade mark developments (see pages 21 & 24…), by an overview of the Hague Agreement for the protection of registered designs (see page 26) and by an article on the patentability of stem cells in the UK and the US, co-authored by Maryanne Trevisan of US Intellectual Property law firm Wolf Greenfield & Sachs, P.C.  (see page 4).

For many, the upcoming EPO rule changes will be the most pressing issue.  As well as the articles on pages 16 & 28 of this newsletter I would strongly recommend that you register for and attend our first webinar (for the uninitiated, this word is a contraction of ‘web’ and ‘seminar’) on 12 November 2009.  As well as hearing from Siân Gill and Pawel Piotrowicz about the divisional application law changes coming into force in April 2010, the ‘live’ nature of the webinar means that you can raise questions during the event and everyone will hear Siân and Pawel’s answers.  Keep an eye on our website for details of future webinars.

Happy reading!

Paul Derry 05 Nov 2009

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