Trade secrets are often the crown jewels within an IP portfolio. Unfortunately, despite their importance to the company, trade secrets can also be the forgotten component of a company’s IP portfolio. With that in mind we thought it would be useful to answer the questions about trade secrets our clients ask us most frequently.
Following a period of continued growth, Potter Clarkson has made two new senior hires to join its respected team of IP professionals.
In this white paper we share what we have found while helping brand-new digital therapeutics ventures define, commercialise, and protect their ideas. We also highlight and tackle the likely obstacles they will need to overcome as they race to take their products to market.
The academic inventor faces pressure from both sides - should they publish their research to help with academic metrics, or should they keep the research confidential so that a patent application can be filed? However, it is important to understand that research publication and IP protection are not mutually exclusive.
Following substantial disruption to oral proceedings in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic, the European Patent Office moved to make oral proceedings by video conference the default option before the Boards of Appeal, by introducing a new provision allowing such proceedings whenever the Boards considered it “appropriate to do so”.
Understanding the market and its IP landscape will help you assess potential opportunities and also demonstrate to investors that you have a good understanding of what third party IP rights exist and how they can impact your innovation or brand.
Having a sound IP strategy in place supports fund-raising efforts by enabling you to address due diligence questions from investors. By answering their questions in a clear manner, you give them the confidence that you have properly considered how IP factors into your business plan.
IP is often the strongest, and sometimes only, asset owned by a university start-up in its early days. Capturing and protecting new IP are essential steps for building a solid foundation on which a start-up can develop their IP portfolio to attract potential investors.
The question of IP ownership should not be overlooked and will be raised by investors looking into investing in a university start-up. There are two key areas investors will want to look at - who owns the existing IP, and what will happen to ownership of new IP created by your start-up?
As a university student or academic you might be vaguely aware of IP as a concept but still wonder “Why is IP important?” and “Where do I start with my IP strategy?”. Our guide takes you through five facets of IP that are particularly important for businesses relying on university-originating IP.
Potter Clarkson has secured prominent placing in IAM Patent 1000: The World's Leading Patent Professionals 2021 - a prestigious guide that identifies the top patent professionals in key jurisdictions around the globe.
In the recent decision, G4/19, the Enlarged Board of Appeal has confirmed the existing practice of prohibiting ‘double patenting’ at the EPO.
Potter Clarkson has secured prominent placing in the 2021 edition of Managing Intellectual Property’s IP STARS - the leading resource for companies or individuals looking for intellectual property firms and practitioners from around the world.
Potter Clarkson has been awarded five gold and one silver medal in the prestigious Financial Times rankings of patent law firms in Europe.
Like all organisations, intellectual property offices have had to make changes to the way they operate at the current time to limit the spread of Covid-19. Here, you will find the key changes you need to be aware of from the EPO, EUIPO, UKIPO, DKPTO, PRV and WIPO.