News

The latest insights, sector developments and case updates from Potter Clarkson. Explore up-to-date content from our experts and stay informed on the issues shaping the IP landscape.

UKIPO publishes outcome of call for views on SEPs and innovation

The UK Intellectual Property Office, UKIPO, has published the outcome of a call for views on Standard Essential Patents, SEPs, and innovation, the purpose of which - as part of the UKIPO’s broader aim to support innovation - was to gather evidence on whether the ecosystem around SEPs is functioning efficiently and effectively and strikes the right balance for all entities involved.

Communications
Electronics & Computing
Software
Patents
Licensing & Commercial Agreements

IP in software: What is the best way to protect software (part 2)?

Another alternative to patents is trade secrets.

Software
FMCG
Electronics & Computing
Trade Secrets
Patents

IP in software: What is the best way to protect software (part 1)?

Sometimes copyright can offer a more effective way to protect software than patents. Copyright and patents are different forms of intellectual property and help protect creations in different ways.

Electronics & Computing
Software
Copyright
Patents

IP in software: What is the best way to protect software (part 1)?

Sometimes copyright can offer a more effective way to protect software than patents. Copyright and patents are different forms of intellectual property and help protect creations in different ways.

Software
Electronics & Computing
Copyright
Patents

Frequently asked questions about the end of the Ten-Day Rule

On 14 October 2022, the European Patent Office (EPO) announced the upcoming end of the so-called “Ten-Day Rule” for calculating deadlines triggered by EPO notifications such as office actions.

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Patents
Restoration
EPO Oppositions
Litigation

Navigating SPCs: the Windsor Framework

The House of Lords Sub-Committee on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland released its report on the Windsor Framework on 25 July 2023. In case you missed it, we summarise below how the Framework will affect the valuable intellectual property rights known as Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs) in the UK.

Life Sciences
Biotech
Food & Agritech
SPCs & Regulatory
Patents

Taco John's abandons 'Taco Tuesday' trade mark in Taco Bell dispute

Taco John's have abandoned their effort to trade mark the phrase 'Taco Tuesday' ending their highly publicised trade mark dispute with Taco Bell.

FMCG
Food & Agritech
Trade Marks
Brand Enforcement
Brand Strategy

IP in software: The importance of software protection from a commercial perspective

Deciding when to patent and when to keep your information confidential can be a tricky decision.

Software
Electronics & Computing
IP Strategy
Patents
Copyright
Trade Secrets
Investor Ready

How can a business deal with counterfeiting?

Developing and building a new brand is one of the most exciting things any business can do. However, it is not without risks, particularly in this digital age. As soon as a brand hits the internet, it is at immediate risk of being copied, misused and mis-sold in an increasingly diverse range of ways. With this in mind, how can a business deal with counterfeiting?

FMCG
Copyright
Designs
Trade Marks
Brand Enforcement

IP in software: How can you identify a patentable software-based invention?

A good start-point for identifying patentable software-based inventions is to understand the effect of the output of your software.

Electronics & Computing
Medtech & Digital Therapeutics
Software
Patents

Managing IP IP STARS 2023

Potter Clarkson has achieved remarkable recognition in Managing IP's IP STARS 2023.

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Intellectual property and the metaverse: what can be patented?

Patenting in relation to the metaverse is experiencing an upward trend driven by tech giants such as Apple, Microsoft, and Meta.

Artificial Intelligence
Electronics & Computing
Software
Patents

Using trade secrets to protect software and software-based innovations

While a patent is often regarded as the ‘gold standard’ of protection for inventions, patents are not always the best option when it comes to software.

Software
Electronics & Computing
Patents
Trade Secrets
IP Strategy
IP Audits
Licensing & Commercial Agreements

IP in software: What type of software is patentable in Europe?

Before we look at what type of software is patentable in Europe, it may be useful to look at what type of software isn’t patentable in Europe.

Electronics & Computing
Software
Patents

Patenting computer vision inventions

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology has seen an impressive and rapid development in the last few years. As a result, businesses that use or develop AI are keen to learn how to protect their innovations. In this article, we discuss some of the benefits and challenges of seeking patent protection in a particular branch of AI: computer vision.

Artificial Intelligence
Electronics & Computing
Software
Life Sciences
Medtech & Digital Therapeutics
Food & Agritech
Patents

How can cultivated meat turn its challenges into opportunities?

Ten years ago, ‘cultivated meat’ grown from cells ex vivo left the realm of science fiction and hit the headlines when the “world’s first lab-grown burger” was cooked and eaten at a conference in London. Today, although the first regulatory “greenlight” has been issued in the US, and despite public tastings in Singapore and at the COP27 climate summit, we are still some distance from seeing slaughter-free sausages and steaks in the supermarket.

Food & Agritech
Biotech
Life Sciences
Industrial Chemistry
IP Strategy
Patents
EPO Oppositions
Licensing & Commercial Agreements