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IP Ingredients Blog, Parts 11-20

April 2024

Welcome to our blog series, IP Ingredients, created by our Food & Drink Team. This blog will explore the latest IP news, updates, and discussions in the food & drink sector.

Understanding how intellectual property is relevant to your food or drink company, and how to leverage different IP rights for business success can be tricky.

To help you untangle some of these issues, HGF attorneys Jennifer Bailey and Tanya Waller, together with other members of HGF’s Food & Drink team, have launched a new series of articles, “IP Ingredients”, which provides an introduction to IP in the food and drink field as well as giving lots of practical advice.

Part 11: Exploring colours in the food & drink sector – a patent perspective

In the eleventh edition of this series, “Exploring colours in the food & drink sector” ,  we discuss how the visual appearance, especially the colour, of a food or beverage product is one of the first things that a consumer will assess, using this information to decide whether a product looks good enough to taste or purchase.

Part 12: Exploring colours in the food & drink sector – overcoming hurdles and leveraging colour trade marks

In the twelfth edition of this series, “Overcoming hurdles and leveraging colour trade marks” , we discuss colours in the food and drink sector, and how to overcome hurdles and leverage colour trade marks.

Part 13: Navigating Trade Marks in the World of Food and Drink Rebranding

In the thirteenth edition of this series, “Navigating Trade Marks in the World of Food and Drink Rebranding” , we discuss rebranding and trade marks.

Part 14: A bitesize guide to freedom to operate

In the fourteenth edition of this series “A bitesize guide to freedom to operate” ,  we discuss everything you need to know about freedom to operate in the context of patent rights.

Part 15: How and when to use trade secrets to protect your food or drink innovations

In the fifteenth edition of this series “How and when to use trade secrets to protect your food and drink innovations” , we discuss trade secrets and how and when you should use them to protect your innovation

Latest updates

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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HGF ranked in The Legal 500 Germany 2025

HGF is proud to be ranked in The Legal 500 Germany 2025 guide. The Legal 500 provides the most comprehensive worldwide coverage on recommended Law firms, Lawyers, Attorneys, Advocates, Solicitors, …

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T 1847/22: Procedural considerations in appeal: Re-ordering of requests and the impact on admissibility

Background This case concerned EP 3 085 344 B1, which relates to a wound pad, a self-adhesive member comprising a wound pad. The patent was opposed by two opponents. During …

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Regulation of NGT plants in Europe- Polish Presidency proposes an alternative solution to the Patent ban

In the latest development on the new proposed legislation for the regulation of NGT (gene-edited) plants in the EU, the Polish Presidency have proposed an amendment which removes the proposed …

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Event - 18th March 2025

Salzburg Seminar: Pitfalls in trade mark practice - What can be protected as a trade mark?

The registration of trade marks is a central component of trade mark protection – but which signs can actually be protected? In recent years, the national trade mark offices and …

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Can the Chancellor’s so-called “Europe’s Silicon Valley” really replicate the innovative activity of its namesake?

The Chancellor of the UK, Rachel Reeves, recently unveiled plans to deliver an Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor that promises to boost the UK economy by up to £78 billion by 2035.  …

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UPC’s CFI (Milan) extends deadline to file defence to infringement claim to align with parallel EPO appeal proceedings

Dainese S.p.A. v. Alpinestars S.p.A. & ors. UPC_CFI_472/2024 – Milan Local Division (Perrotti, Zana, Klein, Ashley) – 15 January 2025 The Milan Local Division granted a defendant’s request for an …

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