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The UPC has opened its doors! See the latest updates and advice on the UPC here.

June 2023

The European patent system has had the biggest change in a generation – on 1 June 2023 the Unified Patent Court (UPC) and a new “unitary patent” or “European patent with unitary effect” (UP)  became a reality.

To ensure our clients are prepared for this change, this page will be regularly updated and will provide helpful, relevant and up to date news on the UPC and UP.

See our latest updates below:

If you have any additional questions or require further advice before making your decision, please contact us at [email protected] or speak to your usual HGF representative.

 

Latest updates

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, …

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Quinas Technology Wins WIPO Global Award for Innovation in ICT

Our client, Quinas Technology, has been named the winner of the WIPO Global Award 2025 in the ICT Startup category. Quinas is a spin-out from Lancaster University. We have worked …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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UPC’s Hamburg Local Division provides guidance on the extent to which a patent may be used as its own “lexicon”

Agfa NV v Gucci & Anors. [UPC_CFI_278/2023] – Hamburg Local Division of the UPC (Klepsch, Schilling, Sarlin) – 30 April 2025 While we await a decision on G1/24 from the …

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