+44 (0)1242 691 801
Speak to a UK and European Patent and Trade Mark Attorney
Do I have to identify the designer?
It is possible to waive the name of the designer when filing a European Community Design, but you should be sure that you have the rights to the design
Where did it all go wrong for the Trunki? The “Trunki” suitcase is a highly successful product. Failing to attract investment on Dragon’s Den does not appear to have proved a major setback for makers Magmatic, who estimate that 20% of all three...
What is the point of a Registered Design? If a patent offers much broader protection for your invention, why would you ever want to apply for a design instead? Well, the truth is that a design is not necessarily just a “poor man’s patent”, but...
For a UK or European registered design to be valid, the design must be new and have individual character. In other words, the design must not just be different from the prior art, it must be different enough. The "individual character" test...
In a bid to improve the quality of Utility Models and Design Patents granted in China, the Chinese State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) has put forward proposals to impose tougher examination requirements for Chinese Utility Model and...
On 25 April 2013, the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill, which was first published in May 2012, received Royal Assent. The Act addresses a number of aspects including: improving the employment tribunal system, establishing the new...
With the advent of a new small claims track in the Patents County Court, SMEs and individuals can now enforce their creative and Intellectual Property rights with less formality, cost, and increased speed. From 1 October 2012, the...
From Monday 15 November 2010, The Trademark and Design Registration Office of the European Union (otherwise known as ‘OHIM’) will only issue registration certificates for Registered Community Designs electronically. Previously paper certificates...
Often a person or a company will develop a product which is a variation on a core theme. The core theme may well be inventive in its own right and thus could well be patented. A patent lasts for 20 years typically from the filing date and...
