News
Michael Jaeger unpacks HMRC’s report on the initial uptake of the UK’s Patent Box
23 December 2016Read more >The UK’s Patent Box came into effect on 1 April 2013. Under the scheme UK companies are able to pay a reduced rate of Corporation Tax on certain profits derived from patented technology. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) published its first report¹ on the uptake of the scheme on 14 September 2016, and that report […]
EPO puts brakes on essentially biological processes
15 December 2016Read more >In frustrating news for the biotech industry, we can report that the European Patent Office (EPO) has decided to suspend all examination and opposition proceedings for inventions concerning plants/animals that are obtained by means of essentially biological processes. This follows a recent non-binding Notice from the European Commission (EC) regarding the interpretation of certain aspects […]
The Final Twist: Rubik’s Cube Trade Mark Declared Invalid by EU Court
1 December 2016Read more >On 10 November 2016, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) decided that the famous Rubik’s Cube could not be a registered trade mark. This marks the end of a ten year tussle over the registrability of one of the world’s best-selling toys of all time. The trade mark in question is Seven […]
Taking the sting out of poisonous divisionals
30 November 2016Read more >The Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBoA) of the European Patent Office (EPO) has today indicated in case G1/15 that the so-called issue of “poisonous divisionals” has been put to rest. The background context to this is that there had been concerns that it might be legally possible for a divisional patent application to be held […]
The UK will ratify the UPCA!
28 November 2016Read more >At the EU competitiveness council meeting today the UK Minister of State for Energy and Intellectual Property, Baroness Neville-Rolfe, indicated that the UK will ratify the Unified Patent Court Agreement (see official press release here). UPC specialist and W&R Partner Russell Barton said: “We, at Withers & Rogers, are delighted the UK government has chosen […]
Name change for the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA)
17 November 2016Read more >The Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA), the organisation, which represents the interests of the trade mark and design profession will be changing its name with effect from Thursday 24 November. Going forward the organisation will be known as The Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA) following the grant of a Royal Charter back […]
