Blog
Indian Patent Office grants licence for anti-cancer drug
Frederick Noble | 24th May 2012
Patents which protect life-saving drugs are often the subject of fierce controversy. Drug companies argue that, without the monopoly rights provided by patents, funding the lengthy research which is required to develop new drugs would become unviable. …
Patent Law Changes in Australia
Cloe Loo | 22nd May 2012
The Intellectual Property Laws Amendment (Raising the Bar) Act has passed into law in Australia, with most provisions coming into effect on 15 April 2013. This brings major changes to the patent law in Australia, with the aim of better aligning patent …
Want a UK Patent Quickly?
Robert Games | 6th March 2012
Fast Track your UK Patent Application Through to Grant Typically, a UK patent application takes between 3 and 4 years to reach grant, which for many applicants can be too long. There are currently a number of ways in which an applicant or a prospective …
Major Changes Afoot in US Law
Robert Games | 6th March 2012
Important changes to the patent law in the USA are occurring. On 16 September 2011, President Barack Obama signed into law the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA), in a bid to encourage innovation and to create more jobs. The AIA represents the most …
More Compensation for Employees
Robert Games | 23rd January 2012
Under UK patent law, if an employee creates an invention during the normal course of their duties or during duties specially assigned to them, and it is reasonable to expect an invention to result from those duties, then it is very likely that the pate …
Fast track for UK National Phase Application
Robert Games | 23rd January 2012
As of 28 May 2010, patent applicants can request their UK national phase application of their International Patent Application (PCT) to be fast tracked. To qualify for the fast track route, all claims present in the application on entry to the national …
Periods for Response to UK Examination Reports
Robert Games | 23rd January 2012
As part of the patent application process before the UK IPO, all applications undergo Substantive Examination. This is the process whereby a UK IPO Examiner reviews the patent application in detail and considers the substantive issues of novelty and in …
How to Avoid Litigation with a Patent Office Opinion
Robert Games | 23rd January 2012
A non-binding Opinion on the infringement or validity of a granted UK patent or a European patent designating the UK is obtainable from the UK Intellectual Property Office. The Opinion service is a cost-effective way of establishing whether a patent is …
Online File Inspection at the UKIPO
Robert Games | 23rd January 2012
The UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) has recently launched a new facility offering online access to documents filed in relation to a UK patent application. The facility, called ‘Ipsum’, is offered free of charge, and is similar to a service alr …
Patent Searching
Adrian Hocking | 1st December 2011
Conducting a worldwide or global patent search for an invention prior to submitting a patent application can be useful in identifying relevant prior art, such as earlier patents and published ideas. Having come up with your idea, you will …
