When handling applications before the European Patent Office (EPO) we frequently encounter enquires regarding the speed of examination. While the EPO has recently increased the speed at which it conducts examination, individual national patent applications are still the fastest method of progressing an application to grant. In the UK, accelerating prosecution of a patent application […]
The Hague System provides an opportunity for designers and companies to protect their designs in over 60 countries throughout the world, using an “international” design application. An application through The Hague System allows for protection in a large number of territories using only a single application, in single language, having a single set of fees, […]
Louboutin faces further setback in its ongoing battle of its red sole trade mark. The iconic red sole of Louboutin high heels, faces further controversy following the most recent development from the European Court of Justice (ECJ). It also casts further doubt on the chances of achieving trade mark protection for shapes of products or […]
A recent case Scomadi Ltd & Anr v RA Engineering Co. Ltd at the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC) referencing two Registered Community Designs (RCD) showed the importance of accurate agreements between parties involved in manufacture and sales. The issues before the judge were breach of contract and infringement relating to three scooter models manufactured […]
While the UK government dithers over any Brexit-related decisions, the European Commission has released its version of a draft Withdrawal Agreement. The full document can be found here: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/draft_withdrawal_agreement.pdf Buried within a vast array of diverse issues are Articles relating to EU intellectual property rights. These provide some seemingly sensible and practical details of how […]
The European Union Intellectual Property Office, who are responsible for all EU trade marks and registered designs, have issued a “Question and Answer” document setting out the implications of a hard Brexit on EU trade marks and registered designs. Whilst all parties are working towards a transitional period to ease these changes, and/or a long […]
One of the most frequent enquiries concerning the European Patent Office (EPO) is the speed at which patent applications are examined. It is not unusual for patent applications to remain pending at the EPO for several years, especially if the subject of the invention lies in a popular field, such as telecommunications or chemical compositions. […]
We thought we would focus on the practical implications of Brexit on trade mark protection in the UK with a simple Q&A. Will I need to file separate EU and UK applications after Brexit (possibly 2019)? Almost certainly yes, unless the UK and the EU agree a compromise. What about my existing EU registrations? There […]
