News & Events

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4th September 2025
PRESS RELEASE – HGF strengthens European presence with three new Partners in France and Germany

HGF is pleased to announce the arrival of three new partners, further strengthening its European presence. Two partners will be joining the firm’s fast-growing French practice, and one will join …

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1st September 2025
G1/23: The Enlarged Board of Appeal shift EPO practice towards an “on-sale” bar.

Last week, the EPO’s Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBA) issued its Decision that both a product put on the market before the date of filing of a European patent application, …

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29th January 2025
The EPO Board of Appeal comments on the scope of the morality exclusion from patentability

The recent decision, T1553/22 of the Board of Appeal required the Board to consider the scope of the exclusions from patentability under Article 53(a) EPC. The invention in this case …

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23rd October 2025
Agritech Thymes: The Bite of Implied Consent: Lessons from the Pink Lady Case

Can the supply of a plant variety without clear and defined restrictions on its use be an implicit consent to commercialise it? This case centres on the evidence required to …

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22nd October 2025
IAM Global Leaders 2026

HGF is proud to announce that we have 3 partners listed as an IAM Global Leader 2026. To qualify for inclusion in the IAM Global Leaders, individuals must be ranked …

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21st October 2025
The Bite of Implied Consent: Lessons from the Pink Lady Case

A recent European Union court decision considers the issue of implied consent to commercialise a plant variety, and whether the evidence meets the threshold of “serious doubts” of the validity …

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Event
5th November 2025
HGF are Gold Sponsors of IAM Live: Navigating the UPC 2025

We’re excited to share that HGF is a Gold Sponsor of IAM Live: Navigating the UPC 2025, taking place on the 5th November at the Marriott Opera Ambassador Hotel in …

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17th October 2025
HGF ranked band 1 in Chambers and Partners UK 2026

The Chambers and Partners UK 2026 Guide is now live and HGF has one again been highly ranked as a firm, with several recognised individuals across multiple regions. HGF is …

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15th October 2025
How France’s investment in digital health, AI, and bioinformatics is transforming the intellectual property (IP) landscape

In recent years, France has become a key player in digital health innovation, driven by strategic government investments under the France 2030 initiative and the French Tech 2030 program. These …

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Event
14th October 2025
The Future of Protein Production Amsterdam 2025

HGF are proud to be sponsoring the Future of Protein Production Amsterdam 2025, the leading global event bringing together innovators across fermentation, cultivated and plant-based proteins. Date: 29-30th October 2025  …

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13th October 2025
A Turning Point for AI Patent Eligibility?

Director Squires Vacates PTAB § 101 Rejection in DeepMind Case In a notable early move as Under Secretary of Commerce and USPTO Director, John Squires has vacated a Patent Trial …

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3rd October 2025
T 0792/24: Novelty and Inventiveness of Second Medical Use Claims

The EPO Board of Appeal’s decision in T 0792/24 provides helpful guidance on the assessment of novelty and inventive step for European second medical use claims. In light of a …

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