News
All the latest news and views.
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UK High Court rules an AI Machine (DABUS) cannot be an Inventor but Owner possibly could be
September 2020
In a decision published on 21 September 2020, a High Court judge, Mr Justice Marcus Smith, has ruled that an Artificial Intelligence (AI) machine cannot be considered to be an inventor under the UK Patents Act 1977 and that, in any event, the right to obtain a patent application could not be transferred from an AI inventor to a patent applicant as an AI inventor lacks the legal personality to own and transfer property rights.
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HGF offices and COVID-19 deadlines
September 2020
HGF continues to remain fully operational with the majority of staff working remotely due to the ongoing situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
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UK Supreme Court Reaches a Unanimous decision in Parallel Unwired Planet and Conversant Appeal cases, Spelling Victory for Standard Essential Patent Holders
August 2020
The Supreme Court has today (26th August 2020) issued decisions unanimously dismissing two parallel appeals from English Court of Appeal decisions. The decision can be found here. In particular, the “Unwired appeal” and the “Conversant appeal”. The Supreme Court heard the oral arguments in October 2019.
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IAM Strategy 300 2020
August 2020
IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists guide has now been published and HGF is proud to have 4 Partners listed.
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Furlough and entitlement
August 2020
Recently we reviewed with a client a new invention, for which there is a (currently unanswered) question whether the employee devised this invention whilst on furlough. It has therefore led us to consider how the furlough scheme may affect entitlement for other inventions and employers.
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Coronavirus update: Oral proceedings before Opposition Divisions and Boards of Appeal
August 2020
In view of the ongoing disruptions caused by the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), the European Patent Office (EPO) has implemented special measures for arrangement and conduct of oral proceedings. These measures are now updated with respect to oral proceedings before Opposition Divisions and Boards of Appeal. Oral proceedings in examination will continue to be held by videoconference.
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International Beer Day 2020
August 2020
International Beer Day is on 7 August 2020, so lets raise a cheers and look at some of the trade mark issues in this ever expanding industry.
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Battle over beer patents brewing at the European Patent Office
August 2020
Oppositions launched by 16 organisations against patents for mutant barley owned by Carlsberg & Heineken highlight the tensions that exist over the grant of monopolies for plant products. We consider which party will most likely be raising a glass to victory in light of recent legal changes, and the lessons applicable to patentees across the spectrum of plant innovation.
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Privacy Shield ruling introduces new challenges to personal data transfers to the US (and elsewhere)
August 2020
EU and UK data protection legislation contains long standing restrictions around transferring personal data to third countries outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) where the country in which the recipient is located has, in the eyes of the European Commission, inadequate protections for that personal data.
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UK will not participate in the UPC
August 2020
On 20 July 2020, it was announced that the UK had made its final preparation to withdraw from the Unified Patent Court project.
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