News archive for 2017
All of our news from 2017
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Plausibility at the EPO - Decision T 0488/16 Dasatinib/BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIB
August 2017
An inventive step requiring particular technical effect or solving a particular problem must have a plausible disclosure of having achieved that in the original specification.
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CpG Oligonucleotide Therapeutics - A History Lesson for CRISPR?
July 2017
When we look at the emerging and likely future battles being fought to establish dominance in the emerging field of CRISPR technologies, it may be too easy to conclude that one has no frame of reference to help understand what the conclusion will likely be. However, as Harry S Truman said; “There is nothing new in the world except the history you do not know”. There have, of course, been many emerging technologies that have been subject to an IP land-grab. One such instance that we will look at in this article relates to CpG oligonucleotides.
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UK Patent Equivalents, Exclusions and Estoppel – where are we now?
July 2017
A 5 year battle between Eli Lilly (Lilly) and Actavis centred on Lilly’s patent for the use of pemetrexed disodium for cancer therapy, has culminated in a decision from the UK Supreme Court, allowing Lilly’s appeal and deciding that Actavis' Products directly infringe Eli Lilly's patent in the UK, France, Italy and Spain. The Court also dismissed Actavis' cross-appeal on the basis that if its products did not directly infringe, they would indirectly infringe to the extent held by the Court of Appeal. Full judgment here.
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Crucial Rule Changes for the Patentability of Plants and Animals at the European Patent Office
July 2017
Starting with immediate effect from the 1st July 2017, plants and animals obtained from essentially biological processes will no longer be patentable before the European Patent Office (EPO).
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MIP Stars 2017
June 2017
Managing Intellectual Property IP STARS 2017 - The list of highly recommended trade mark practitioners and trade mark firm rankings editorials for IP STARS (2017) have now been published online.
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UK presses on with ratification of the UPC Agreement
June 2017
The UK is pressing on with legislation that is required for the ratification of the UPC Agreement by the UK; secondary legislation in the form of an Order on Privileges and Immunities for the Unified Patent Court were laid in Parliament under the International Organisations Act 1968 today (26 June 2017).
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December 2017 target start date for UPC will not be achieved
June 2017
The UPC Preparatory Committee has announced that the timetable for opening the UPC (and the associated start date for unitary patents) is to be revised.
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IAM Patent 1000
June 2017
The IAM Patent 1000 – The World’s Leading Patent Professionals 2017 guide has now been published. The sixth edition of IAM's market-leading guide identifies and profiles leading patent professionals and firms in the world’s key jurisdictions. HGF are one of only 4 firms in the UK with 9 or more attorneys published within the Patent 1000. HGF are also listed as Recommended firm within the guide. This achievement comes on the back of a successful year for the firm with new office openings in Basel and Amsterdam, giving the firm a total of 3 offices in mainland Europe and ensuring we are well positioned for the opportunities in post Brexit Britain.
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The Intellectual Property (Unjustified Threats) Act 2017
May 2017
The Intellectual Property (Unjustified Threats) Bill received Royal Assent on 27 April 2017. This creates the Intellectual Property (Unjustified Threats) Act 2017 which is expected to come in to force in October 2017.
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Private Prosecutions – a viable line of attack against counterfeiters
May 2017
In the commercial world producers of quality goods rely upon exclusivity and their reputation within the marketplace. The preservation of their products’ reputation being integral to long term commercial success.
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