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Articles
Feb 11 2026

The Patentability of Deuterated Pharmaceuticals: Insights from the EPO

Deuteration has emerged as a valuable strategy for tailoring the properties of pharmaceutical compounds.  With its expanding role in drug development, it is important to consider how the European Patent Office (EPO) assesses the patentability of deuterated analogues of known compounds.  This article examines the EPO’s approach to the novelty and inventive step of such analogues, drawing on trends observed in both examination and opposition proceedings, and aims to provide guidance to applicants ...
Harry Gregson
Daniel Woollaston

The Patentability of Deuterated Pharmaceuticals: Insights from the EPO
FOOD & DRINK + IP
Jan 21 2026

IP Ingredients: Winter Case Law Review 2025

A seasonal tasting of recent IP decisions across the UK and EU.  Including notes on what brand owners, creatives, R&D teams and food and drink businesses should take away. Patents Onego Bio / VTT v The Every Company / Clara Foods Co. The start of 2025 saw the long-awaited outcome of the opposition and appeal proceedings which reviewed the validity of Impossible Food’s European patent for meat substitute products.  As reported here, in order to establish sufficiency of disclosure, Impossible...
Jennifer Bailey
Tanya Waller

IP Ingredients: Winter Case Law Review 2025
HGF Event

HGF Brand & Design Conference 2026

Join us on 3rd February 2026 for HGF's Brand & Design Conference, the must attend event for in-house legal teams, brand leaders, creatives, and innovators shaping the future of IP. This year's programme goes straight to the heart of the issues redefining brand protection. Hear Michael Edenborough KC on the future of lookalike litigation, gain critical guidance on protecting trade marks in the digital age with experts from DRD Partnership and Harpreet Dhaliwal, and get the inside track on trad...
3rd February 2026
HGF Brand & Design Conference 2026
HGF Presents
Nov 3 2025

Second Medical Use - Novelty of New Mechanism of Action

A newly discovered mode of action for a known compound can support patentable second medical use claims in Europe, even when the condition being treated is already known. This video explores how European case law allows for further protection of known substances when a new technical effect has been identified.   [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.hgf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Second-Medical-Use-–-Novelty-of-New-Mechanism-of-Action.mp4"][/video]    
Second Medical Use - Novelty of New Mechanism of Action
IP Guides
Jan 14 2026

The Antibody Series #1 | Quality Characteristics (CQAs) in Antibody Claims: When the Test Method Can Remain Outside the Claim

Therapeutic antibodies are at the heart of innovations in biotechnology and healthcare. With increasing regulatory requirements and quality expectations, critical quality attributes (CQAs) are becoming essential in the drafting of patent claims for biological products. Understanding how to incorporate these parameters into an IP protection strategy is now essential. Why is this issue becoming more prevalent? The number of cases related to antibodies and quality attributes is increasing for...
The Antibody Series #1 | Quality Characteristics (CQAs) in Antibody Claims: When the Test Method Can Remain Outside the Claim
Legal Updates
Dec 5 2025

T 0883/23: Dosage claims and their entitlement to priority when only the clinical trial protocol was disclosed in the priority application

In a recently issued decision by the EPO’s Board of Appeal (BoA), the BoA held that claims directed to a combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) at particular doses were not entitled to the priority date because the priority application only contained the clinical trial protocol rather than the clinical trial data. The BoA held there was no pointer in the priority application to the specific dose combination claimed, as the dose combination disclosed in the protocol was only to ...
Joanna Pownall
Joanna Pownall

Senior Patent Attorney

No image available
Articles News
Jan 20 2026

The Antibody Series #3 | Antibody code names in claims: why “ACZ885” is not sufficient to define the antibody

The Boards of Appeal of the EPO (BoA) are the appeal body that reviews EPO decisions. In this case, they examined a claim that identified an antibody by an internal code name. The real case: Your team is working with a clinical antibody known internally by a code name. You draft claims for a new indication and put this code name in the claim because, internally, there is no doubt about the molecule being targeted. Claim 1 : (alternative claim) “1. A medicament for use in the treatment of ...
Benoit Liénard
Benoit Liénard

Partner & Patent Attorney

The Antibody Series #3 | Antibody code names in claims: why “ACZ885” is not sufficient to define the antibody
Fashionably IP
Jan 16 2026

The concept of ‘overall impression’ in UK and EU Registered Design Law

[video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.hgf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/EP45-–-Trailer-3.mp4"][/video]   [hgf-button url="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6iJk8SaNWXybeMtlZYRU5v?si=jxdTN3V6TZWkEJYKRfgTRw" button_text="SPOTIFY" button_type="outlined" new_tab="true" background="on-grey" margin_bottom="true"] [hgf-button url="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-concept-of-overall-impression-in-uk-and/id1624502015?i=1000745267954" button_text="" button_type="outlined" new_t...
The concept of ‘overall impression’ in UK and EU Registered Design Law

News

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Articles News
Jan 20 2026

The Antibody Series #3 | Antibody code names in claims: why “ACZ885” is not sufficient to define the antibody

The Boards of Appeal of the EPO (BoA) are the appeal body that reviews EPO decisions. In this case, they examined a claim that identified an antibody by an internal code name. The real case: Your team is working with a clinical antibody known internally by a code name. You draft claims for a new indication and put this code name in the claim because, internally, there is no doubt about the molecule being targeted. Claim 1 : (alternative claim) “1. A medicament for use in the treatment of ...
Benoit Liénard
Benoit Liénard

Partner & Patent Attorney

The Antibody Series #3 | Antibody code names in claims: why “ACZ885” is not sufficient to define the antibody
News
Jan 14 2026

The Antibody Series #2 | Definition via binding strength in antibody claims: when “binds strongly... but only minimally...” becomes a trap of lack of clarity

Defining an antibody by its binding strength is common practice in patent claims, but it can quickly become a pitfall under Article 84 EPC on clarity. In this second installment of our series, we analyze a decision by the EPO Boards of Appeal that illustrates why relative terms such as “binds strongly” or “only minimally” can compromise the strength of a claim. Discover practical lessons to secure your IP protection strategy. The EPO Boards of Appeal (BoA) are the appeal body that reviews dec...
The Antibody Series #2 | Definition via binding strength in antibody claims: when “binds strongly... but only minimally...” becomes a trap of lack of clarity
News
Nov 26 2025

HGF Shortlisted for Women in Diversity Awards 2026

We are proud to announce that we’ve been shortlisted in the Diversity and Inclusion Initiative or Programme of the Year category for the Women in Diversity in Law Awards 2026, recognising the significant steps we’ve taken to address menopause and menstruation in the workplace. As one of Europe’s largest intellectual property firms, HGF is committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels supported. With 200+ specialists across Europe, we recognise the importance of breaking long-standing t...
HGF Shortlisted for Women in Diversity Awards 2026
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Legal Updates

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Legal Updates
Dec 5 2025

T 0883/23: Dosage claims and their entitlement to priority when only the clinical trial protocol was disclosed in the priority application

In a recently issued decision by the EPO’s Board of Appeal (BoA), the BoA held that claims directed to a combination of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) at particular doses were not entitled to the priority date because the priority application only contained the clinical trial protocol rather than the clinical trial data. The BoA held there was no pointer in the priority application to the specific dose combination claimed, as the dose combination disclosed in the protocol was only to ...
Joanna Pownall
Joanna Pownall

Senior Patent Attorney

No image available
Legal Updates
Nov 21 2025

UK IPO fees to increase from 1 April 2026

Whilst the fee changes are subject to parliamentary approval, they are almost certain to take effect – read on to learn more. The United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) recently announced that it intends to increase its official fees for patents, trade marks and designs from 1st April 2026. These increases are subject to approval by the United Kingdom’s Parliament – however we expect that parliamentary approval will be a mere formality.  As such, clients should expect these inc...
No image available
Legal Updates
Nov 5 2025

Doubling Up on Added Matter at the UPC

Following the UPC Court of Appeal (CoA) decision in Abbott v Sibio (APL_39664/2024, 14 February 2025) we now have a second CoA decision on added matter in expert Klein v Seoul Viosys (UPC_CoA_764/2024 & UPC_CoA_774/2024, 2 October 2025). expert Klein v Seoul Viosys is notable as the first judgment on added matter by the CoA on a substantive infringement/validity appeal. Note – HGF Partner Bernhard Ganahl represented expert Klein together with  Dr. Dirk Jestaedt of KRIEGER MES. Both decisi...
Scott Fletcher
Scott Fletcher

Partner & Patent Attorney

No image available
Legal Updates
Sep 1 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, and technical information related thereto but also available before said date, should not be excluded from the prior art for the sole reason that its composition or internal structure could not be analysed and reproduced by the skilled person before that date. Indeed, the EBA have affirmed, by being placed on the market, a produ...
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Legal Updates
Sep 1 2025

Briefing Note: UKIPO SEP Consultation

Overview and Strategic Context The UKIPO’s 2025 consultation on Standard Essential Patents (SEPs), announced on 15 July 2025, signals a potential policy shift in how the UK approaches SEP licensing and dispute resolution. The proposals seek to position the UK as a procedurally distinct and implementer-friendly jurisdiction - particularly at a time when enforcement dynamics across Europe and Asia are shifting. The UK plays a significant global role in FRAND jurisprudence having helped defin...
No image available
Legal Updates
Jun 23 2025

The Enlarged Board of Appeal has today issued its decision in seminal case G1/24.

G1/24, described as one of the most important cases in decades, relates to how claims of patents are to be interpreted by the Boards of Appeal and, by extension, all organs of the European Patent Office. The referral to the Enlarged Board came from a decision of Technical Board of Appeal 3.2.01 which identified diverging strands of case law concerning claim interpretation. A first strand suggests that the Claims should be interpreted in isolation and the description should only be consulted to ...
No image available
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Articles

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Articles
Feb 11 2026

The Patentability of Deuterated Pharmaceuticals: Insights from the EPO

Deuteration has emerged as a valuable strategy for tailoring the properties of pharmaceutical compounds.  With its expanding role in drug development, it is important to consider how the European Patent Office (EPO) assesses the patentability of deuterated analogues of known compounds.  This article examines the EPO’s approach to the novelty and inventive step of such analogues, drawing on trends observed in both examination and opposition proceedings, and aims to provide guidance to applicants ...
Harry Gregson
Daniel Woollaston

The Patentability of Deuterated Pharmaceuticals: Insights from the EPO
Articles
Feb 6 2026

Why MedTech Innovators Should Prioritise Registered Design Protection

In the MedTech sector, innovation is often associated with patents, clinical data, and regulatory approvals. Yet some of the most commercially valuable aspects of a medical device are not purely technical. The shape of a handheld diagnostic tool, the layout of a user interface, or the distinctive look of a wearable sensor can be just as critical to market success as the underlying technology. Design Registrations can be used to protect the appearance of a product, including its shape, contours, ...
No image available
Articles
Jan 30 2026

The Deity Shoes case: a question of design activity and the constraints on a designer’s freedom

The footwear brand Deity Shoes sought to enforce their Community Design rights, both registered and unregistered, against Mundorama Confort and Stay Design. However, Mundorama Confort and Stay Design found fault in Deity Shoes’ case, arguing that they should not have design protection in the first place. Indeed, these designs were simply the result of customised elements like buckles and laces from earlier designs included in supplier catalogues.  They did not have ‘genuine design activity’ or ‘...
Melissa Buamah
Melissa Buamah

Trade Mark Attorney

The Deity Shoes case: a question of design activity and the constraints on a designer’s freedom
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Events

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HGF Presents

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HGF Presents
Nov 3 2025

Second Medical Use - Novelty of New Mechanism of Action

A newly discovered mode of action for a known compound can support patentable second medical use claims in Europe, even when the condition being treated is already known. This video explores how European case law allows for further protection of known substances when a new technical effect has been identified.   [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.hgf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Second-Medical-Use-–-Novelty-of-New-Mechanism-of-Action.mp4"][/video]    
Second Medical Use - Novelty of New Mechanism of Action
HGF Presents
Nov 3 2025

Protecting Wearable Technology

[video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.hgf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Protecting-Wearables.mp4"][/video]   Wearable technology spans different technologies, and protecting IP in this exciting and fast-moving space requires a strategic multi-faceted approach. This video highlights how to protect various aspects of wearables, including hardware, software, and design, to craft an IP strategy that fits your product.
Protecting Wearable Technology
HGF Presents
Nov 3 2025

Lack of Unity

[video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.hgf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Lack-of-Unity-1-1.mp4"][/video]   This video explains how the European Patent Office assesses unity of invention and the opportunities it provides to pay further search fees. It highlights the strategic importance of paying further search fees if pursuing unsearched subject matter is of interest.
Lack of Unity
HGF Presents
Nov 3 2025

Drafting for the EPO

[video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.hgf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Drafting-for-the-EPO.mp4"][/video]   The EPO adopts strict rules on added subject-matter, and has a number of unique formalities. This video briefly explores some key points for drafting patent applications for the EPO, which can help save cost and allow for more efficient prosecution of European patent applications.
Drafting for the EPO
HGF Presents
Sep 9 2025

Welcome to HGF Presents - New Video Series

Introducing HGF Presents a new video series delivering practical insights into European Patent Law and practice. Curated by our leading experts in chemistry, life sciences, technology & engineering, each concise episode is designed to keep you ahead of the curve, highlighting: ✔️ Key legal issues ✔️ Common pitfalls ✔️ Strategic considerations At launch, five complete series are available, each offering technical and authoritative guidance across key areas of European Patent Law. Fu...
Welcome to HGF Presents - New Video Series
HGF Presents
Sep 4 2025

Providing Enabling Disclosure for AI inventions at the EPO

  Video overview: The equivalent to the enablement requirement in the US at the EPO is Sufficiency. There is an increasing trend for the sufficiency of AI related patent applications to be challenged at the EPO. This is important to bear in mind when first drafting a patent application, because it cannot be resolved by later amendment or addition to the application. The core invention of AI-related patent application often lies in the practical implementation to solve a real-world problem. ...
Providing Enabling Disclosure for AI inventions at the EPO
HGF Presents
Sep 4 2025

Personalised Medicine Patenting of Known Drugs for Known Indications at the EPO

Video overview: The identification of specific sub-groups of patients to treat with a known drug, even if said patients may have been treated before with the drug, can yield patentable subject matter under the European Patent Convention. In this episode of HGF Presents, Laurence identifies the key case law that supports the ability to secure patent protection for known drugs for use in treating a known disease, but wherein the patient to be treated is purposefully selected based on a biomark...
Personalised Medicine Patenting of Known Drugs for Known Indications at the EPO
HGF Presents
Sep 4 2025

Novelty Over Clinical Trials at the EPO

Video overview: Second medical use claims can be novel over clinical trials in European patents. Typically, such a claim would be fairly narrow, e.g. perhaps mapping onto specific indications and dosages for a potential commercial product. For such a claim to be novel, it is important that the prior art disclosure of the clinical trial does not unambiguously disclose the therapeutic effect underlying the claim.  The EPO’s approach to this is explained in more detail in the video.
Novelty Over Clinical Trials at the EPO
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Blog Posts

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FOOD & DRINK + IP
Jan 21 2026

IP Ingredients: Winter Case Law Review 2025

A seasonal tasting of recent IP decisions across the UK and EU.  Including notes on what brand owners, creatives, R&D teams and food and drink businesses should take away. Patents Onego Bio / VTT v The Every Company / Clara Foods Co. The start of 2025 saw the long-awaited outcome of the opposition and appeal proceedings which reviewed the validity of Impossible Food’s European patent for meat substitute products.  As reported here, in order to establish sufficiency of disclosure, Impossible...
Jennifer Bailey
Tanya Waller

IP Ingredients: Winter Case Law Review 2025
AGRITECH + IP
Jan 20 2026

Agritech Thymes: Unlocking the Soil Microbiome: Driving Agritech Innovation in the UK

The UK offers an ideal platform for harnessing the untapped potential of soil and plant microorganisms. Although much of my professional experience has focused on the human microbiome, I have always had an interest in the soil and plant microbiome. What amazes me is the diversity of microorganisms present in the soil, which is surprisingly much higher than that of the human gut. Many of these microorganisms remain uncharacterised, and their potential for biotechnology and, more specifically, ag...
Agritech Thymes: Unlocking the Soil Microbiome: Driving Agritech Innovation in the UK
AGRITECH + IP
Dec 17 2025

EU Agrees on NGT Plant Regulation: What It Means for Patents and Licensing

The European Parliament and Council have reached a provisional agreement for plants developed using New Genomic Techniques (NGTs) – below we summarise the main points and set out the requirements relating to patents and licensing. With the aim of enabling innovative plant breeding and to maintain Europe’s ability to be competitive in the International playing field, the proposal confirms that NGT-1 plants will undergo a verification process and, if they meet certain criteria, will be considered...
Punita Shah
Punita Shah

Partner & Patent Attorney

EU Agrees on NGT Plant Regulation: What It Means for Patents and Licensing
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Podcasts

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Fashionably IP
Jan 16 2026

The concept of ‘overall impression’ in UK and EU Registered Design Law

[video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.hgf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/EP45-–-Trailer-3.mp4"][/video]   [hgf-button url="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6iJk8SaNWXybeMtlZYRU5v?si=jxdTN3V6TZWkEJYKRfgTRw" button_text="SPOTIFY" button_type="outlined" new_tab="true" background="on-grey" margin_bottom="true"] [hgf-button url="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-concept-of-overall-impression-in-uk-and/id1624502015?i=1000745267954" button_text="" button_type="outlined" new_t...
The concept of ‘overall impression’ in UK and EU Registered Design Law
Fashionably IP
Jan 6 2026

The Dryrobe case: When is a trade mark generic? An interview with Theo Barclay

The Dryrobe case: When is a trade mark generic? An interview with Theo Barclay [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.hgf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/EP44-–-Trailer.mp4"][/video] [hgf-button url="https://open.spotify.com/episode/34PYoe9XoeGmSY197wk12o?si=AxWm0Pg6TJGd9Dxnd3B9DA" button_text="SPOTIFY" button_type="outlined" new_tab="true" background="on-grey" margin_bottom="true"] [hgf-button url="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-dryrobe-case-when-is-a-trade-mark-gene...
The Dryrobe case: When is a trade mark generic? An interview with Theo Barclay
Fashionably IP
Nov 27 2025

Personal names as 'brands' in the world of fashion

Episode 1 Personal names as 'brands' in the world of fashion [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.hgf.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Fashionably-IP-episode-1.mp4"][/video]   [hgf-button url="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/personal-names-as-brands-in-the-world-of-fashion/id1624502015?i=1000561613996" button_text="APPLE PODCASTS" button_type="outlined" new_tab="true" background="on-grey" margin_bottom="true"] [hgf-button url="https://open.spotify.com/episode/5SfJeQk...
Personal names as 'brands' in the world of fashion
Fashionably IP
Nov 27 2025

Colour in fashion and the difficulties of protecting it

Episode 2 Colour in fashion and the difficulties of protecting it [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.hgf.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Episode-2-social-teaser.mp4"][/video]   [hgf-button url="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/colour-in-fashion-and-the-difficulties-of-protecting-it/id1624502015?i=1000566517972" button_text="APPLE PODCASTS" button_type="outlined" new_tab="true" background="on-grey" margin_bottom="true"] [hgf-button url="https://open.spotify.com/epis...
Colour in fashion and the difficulties of protecting it
Fashionably IP
Nov 27 2025

Trade marks which are fashion products, and fashion products which are trade marks

Episode 3 Trade marks which are fashion products, and fashion products which are trade marks [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.hgf.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/EP3_Teaser.mp4"][/video]
Trade marks which are fashion products, and fashion products which are trade marks
Fashionably IP
Nov 27 2025

Zombie Fashion Brands

Episode 4 Zombie Fashion Brands [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.hgf.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/EP4-SocialTeaser.mp4"][/video]  
Zombie Fashion Brands
Fashionably IP
Nov 27 2025

Trade mark rights protecting fashion designs

Episode 5 Trade mark rights protecting fashion designs [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.hgf.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/EP5-Social-Teaser.mp4"][/video]
Trade mark rights protecting fashion designs
Fashionably IP
Nov 27 2025

Geographical terms and their protection in fashion

Episode 6 Geographical terms and their protection in fashion Teaser [video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.hgf.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/EP6-Teaser.mp4"][/video]   [hgf-button url="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/geographical-terms-and-their-protection-in-fashion/id1624502015?i=1000582505188" button_text="APPLE PODCASTS" button_type="outlined" new_tab="true" background="on-grey" margin_bottom="true"] [hgf-button url="https://open.spotify.com/episode/1rg4hqP9B...
Geographical terms and their protection in fashion
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IP Guides

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IP Guides
Jan 14 2026

The Antibody Series #1 | Quality Characteristics (CQAs) in Antibody Claims: When the Test Method Can Remain Outside the Claim

Therapeutic antibodies are at the heart of innovations in biotechnology and healthcare. With increasing regulatory requirements and quality expectations, critical quality attributes (CQAs) are becoming essential in the drafting of patent claims for biological products. Understanding how to incorporate these parameters into an IP protection strategy is now essential. Why is this issue becoming more prevalent? The number of cases related to antibodies and quality attributes is increasing for...
The Antibody Series #1 | Quality Characteristics (CQAs) in Antibody Claims: When the Test Method Can Remain Outside the Claim
IP Guides
Dec 5 2025

The end of the Brexit overhang for trade marks: review, refile and revoke.

On the 31st December 2025, five years will have passed since the end of the Brexit transitional period on 31st December 2020. Why is this relevant? For UK cloned trade mark registrations which came about as a result of the Brexit transition, this date marks the end of the period by which the use of the trade mark in the EU prior to the end of the Brexit transitional period is of relevance in the defence of UK non-use revocation actions. This cut off date also impacts EU trade mark registrati...
Lee Curtis
Lee Curtis

Partner & Trade Mark Attorney

The end of the Brexit overhang for trade marks: review, refile and revoke.
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