News

UPC grants first UK injunction

Following its previous widely-reported ruling earlier this year, the Mannheim Local Division has now issued its decision in respect of the UK aspect of the infringement proceedings brought by FujiFilm, marking the first time that the UPC has granted an injunction which applies to the UK.

What should I be asking IP firms to present in a tender?

Intellectual property (IP) is one of the most valuable assets a business can hold. Patents, trade marks, copyrights, and trade secrets are not just legal formalities, they are hugely valuable strategic tools that protect innovation and create competitive advantage.

Can space agriculture tackle the food crisis and how is IP enforced in space?

Space agriculture (or as you may know it, space-based AgTech, astroagriculture, exo-agriculture, off-earth farming or extraterrestrial food systems) refers to agricultural technologies and systems developed or tested in space.

Potter Clarkson launches landmark patent landscape analysis of the SynBio revolution

From engineered microbes cleaning up environmental waste to CRISPR-edited cells powering next-generation therapies, synthetic biology is shaping industries, economies, and everyday life.

The SPC manufacturing waiver in practice: legal framework and emerging jurisprudence

The SPC manufacturing waiver, introduced in 2019 under Regulation (EU) No 2019/933, marked a pivotal development in EU pharmaceutical law.

Can CRISPR and RNAi help us develop new and more sustainable fruits and vegetables?

Gene editing technologies like CRISPR and RNA interference (RNAi) are revolutionising agriculture.

What are the critical success factors procurement managers should prioritise when selecting an IP firm from tender responses?

When evaluating tender responses from IP law firms, procurement managers should prioritise the direct responses to their critical success factors (CSFs). This will ensure the selected firm is capable of delivering value and minimising risk.

Referral on EPO description amendments confirmed (G1/25 - “Hydroponics")

A Board of Appeal at the EPO has referred questions to the Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBA) in connection with inconsistencies between the claims and description of a European patent vs. those of a European patent application (pre-grant vs. post-grant).

Helping a green hydrogen technology company scale through strategic IP

GeoPura is a trailblazer within sustainable innovation. They provide a zero-emission solution for generating, storing, and distributing the energy needed to drive the global transition to clean power by giving customers the power to decarbonize their consumption of temporary, backup, off-grid, and grid augmentation energy.

We worked with this pioneering clean energy business to put in place the patent and trade mark protection needed to support the development and commercialisation of its hydrogen power technology and HPU™ brand. This strategy helped secure investment and accelerate growth.

UK approach to plausibility remains unchanged despite EPO’s G2/21

In the recent decision Generics v AstraZeneca, the UK Court of Appeal confirmed that the UK’s approach to ‘plausibility’ remains unchanged despite the EPO Enlarged Board of Appeal decision G2/21.

Proposed reforms to regulatory exclusivities from the European Parliament and Council

In April 2023, the European Commission adopted a comprehensive package of proposed reforms to the legislation governing the authorisation of medicines in the EU.

New UPC CMS launched

The revamped UPC Case Management System (‘CMS’) is now live. The objective of the new CMS is to simplify access for users. This will be a welcome update for IP practitioners who have in the past experienced various issues when using the old CMS.

UK SPC law changes from 1 January 2025: what you need to know

The implementation of the Windsor Framework on 1 January 2025 marked a significant turning point in the UK’s regulatory landscape for human medicines.

G 1/23: Enlarged Board of Appeal redefines prior art in Europe

The Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office has issued a landmark decision (G1/23) significantly altering the interpretation of what constitutes prior art.

The Cali Fund and DSI: What life sciences and biotech companies need to know now

At a recent webinar hosted by the BioIndustry Association (BIA), speakers from DEFRA and Covington outlined the current state of play. Here are the key takeaways for companies working with DSI, and some early steps they can take.

Temporal scope of jurisdiction clarified by UPC Court of Appeal

The Court of Appeal (CoA) confirms the UPC’s jurisdiction over infringements committed before 1 June 2023 and during an opt-out period where the European patent is subsequently opted back into the jurisdiction of the UPC.