< Back to latest news & events

Blogs

IP Ingredients Blog, Parts 1-10

March 2024

Welcome to our new 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, are launching 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 1: Can you patent a recipe?

In the first edition of the series, “Can you patent a recipe?”, we consider what an invention is, and how to spot potential inventions in your research that could lead to valuable IP.

Read the article below:

Part 2: Sippin’ Success with Trade Marks

In the second edition of this series, “Sippin’ Success with trade Marks” , we discuss how trade marks play a vital role in safeguarding a brand’s identity.

Read the article below:

Part 3: An Appetite for Designs

In the third edition of this series, “An Appetite for Designs” , we discuss Registered Designs.

Read the article below:

Part 4: Why should I care about copyright?

In the fourth edition of this series, “Why should I care about copyright?” ,  we discuss how copyright may not be a core IP asset of your business, it’s still worth having an understanding of where rights may subsist.

Read the article below:

Part 5: New Year’s Resolutions

In the fifth edition of this series, “New Year’s Resolution’s” ,  this edition is about businesses reflect on their strategies, including whether their IP portfolio is in good shape.

Read the article below:

Part 6: Geographical Indications: “What’s in a [place] name?”

In the sixth edition of this series, “Geographical Indications: “What’s in a [place] name?” , we discuss Geographical indications.

Read the article below:

Part 7: Data in food and beverage patent applications – Why, What, & How much?

In the seventh edition of this series, “Data in food and beverage patent applications – Why, What, & How much?” , we discuss why, what and how do you get data for your food or beverage patent application.

Read the article below:

Part 9: Protecting a food or drink manufacturing process

In the ninth edition of this series, “Protecting a food or drink manufacturing process” , we discuss how you can patent a process.

Part 10: Coffee Corner with SeaGrown – Harvesting success in seaweed farming

In the tenth edition of this series, “Coffee Corner with SeaGrown – Harvesting success in seaweed farming” , we discuss how Wave and Laura set up their business ‘SeaGrown’

Read the article below:

 

Latest updates

HGF Ranked #1 in the UK for Trade Mark Portfolios in the 2025 Trade Mark Filing Trends Report by Clarivate.

HGF has achieved the #1 ranking for the UK for trade mark portfolios in the newly released 2025 Trade mark Filing Trends report by Clarivate, recognising the firm as a …

Read article

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 …

Read article

IP Ingredients: Summer Case Law Review 2025

As the British summer swings once again between sunburn and showers, it’s a great time to take stock of what the first half of the year has delivered by way …

Read article

Celebrating exam success at HGF!

We are once again delighted to share that our colleagues have achieved success in their recent exams! Their dedication, perseverance, and commitment to professional development have paid off, and we …

Read article

Is the Supreme Court denial in Thatcher’s case a fatal blow against lookalikes?

The dispute between Thatcher’s Cider Company and Aldi Stores Limited has been long running and has sparked legal controversy along the way. On 4th June 2025 the Supreme denied Aldi …

Read article

HGF ranked among Europe’s top patent firms in IP STARS Patent Rankings 2025

HGF has once again made a bold mark in the latest Managing IP Stars 2025 firm rankings, with top-tier recognition across multiple jurisdictions for our patent expertise. This year’s results …

Read article

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 …

Read article