News
All the latest news and views.
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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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UK Supreme Court invalidates Regeneron’s transgenic mouse patents for lack of sufficiency
June 2020
In its long-awaited judgment on the dispute over patents for transgenic mice, the UK Supreme Court has held by a majority (Lady Black dissenting) that Regeneron’s patents are invalid for a lack of sufficiency (Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc (Respondent) v Kymab Ltd (Appellant) [2020] UKSC 27).
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COVID-19 licensing challenges
June 2020
The taking of new therapies and technologies forward to meet the challenges of COVID-19 is happening at previously unprecedented rates. MHRA is taking flexible approaches to regulation during the COVID-19 outbreak. This includes providing expedited scientific advice, and rapid reviews of clinical trials applications.
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Co-Existence Agreements – The Importance of Getting Them Right
June 2020
A co-existence agreement allows businesses to trade using the same (or similar) mark, but with certain agreed restrictions, such as geographical constraints where a mark can be used. For example – one party may be able to sell under the mark in Europe, and another can sell under the mark in the USA. The need for this may arise for example where two parties have unknowingly adopted the same mark at the same time.
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IAM Patent 1000 2020
June 2020
The IAM Patent 1000 – the world’s leading patent professionals 2020 guide has now been published. HGF has 14 attorneys listed.
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A virtual success – experiences with online hearings
June 2020
To assist with the continued operation of civil proceedings during the COVID-19 crisis, the courts have been allowing parties to conduct trials and hearings remotely. Given social distancing and the uncertainty of when courts and offices are due to reopen, remote hearings could represent a new normal for some while.
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IP considerations in COVID-19 vaccine development: tensions and tools
June 2020
HGF Partner Dr Leena Contarino and Senior Patent Attorney Ellie Purnell discuss the perceived tension between patent protection and information sharing at a time of need for collaboration and speed, and suggest that, as evidenced by the Ebola vaccine campaign, patent protection, information sharing, and collaboration are not necessarily mutually exclusive endeavours.
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