News Flashes
Showing
Vision 2035: The need for Innovation to Meet Ambitious Targets set by the UK’s New Critical Minerals Strategy
The Government has announced the UK’s new Critical Minerals Strategy, which sets out an ambitious roadmap to secure essential mineral resources. The aim is to meet short term demand and support future development of key growth sectors for the UK&...
Another day, another interim injunction granted by the UK High Court: Boehringer Ingelheim find success against Dr Reddy
Michael Tappin KC (sitting as a Deputy Judge of the High Court) has granted the interim injunction sought by Boehringer Ingelheim Internation GmbH (“BI DE”) against Dr Reddy’s (UK) Limited (“DR”). The injunction will remai...
Vision 2035: The need for Innovation to Meet Ambitious Targets set by the UK’s New Critical Minerals Strategy
The Government has announced the UK’s new Critical Minerals Strategy, which sets out an ambitious roadmap to secure essential mineral resources. The aim is to meet short term demand and support future development of key growth sectors for the UK&...
Research underlying Nobel prize in Chemistry has sparked innovation and patent filings
Imagine a material that can capture water vapour from desert air during the night and then release water when the sun rises – this sounds like science fiction but has become a reality by the research made by Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Om...
UKIPO Fee Increases from April 2026: What It Means for Your IP Strategy
Overview The UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) has announced its first major fee increase in years, effective 1 April 2026. This change will affect patents, trade marks, and designs, with fees rising by an average of 25%. While the adjustment r...
Sustainable models: content licensing for generative AI training
It is fair to say that no technology in recent times has created so much excitement and controversy as generative AI, and in particular Large Language Models (LLMs). Generative AI companies and their backers have their sights on generating billions, if...
What should you look to protect in a (bio)pharma IP strategy?
Potential investors and development partners will expect to see an IP portfolio and strategy which maximises protection for the assets under development. Protect the active(s) The most important filing in any (bio)pharma IP portfolio is that which co...
Beyond Borders: A Backpacker’s Take on Why Your Patent Strategy Needs a Global Mindset
A well-planned global patent strategy can protect your innovations, maximise commercial value, and reduce costly surprises down the line. Yet, amid the big-picture planning, it’s often the small details—the formalities—that make or br...
When “better” isn’t good enough under Art. 84 EPC
In the recent Decision T 2387/22, the Board’s key message was: if you define an invention by a "relative improvement" of a known technical effect, the improvement must be expressed in "objectively verifiable" terms. Vague language like "stronger"...
Does an ongoing phase 3 clinical trial and its published protocol suggest that the tested drug will be successful?
Summary A recent EPO Boards of Appeal decision, T 0136/24, has examined the issue of “reasonable expectation of success” when the prior art discloses a protocol to an ongoing phase 3 clinical trial. How much weight should be given to such ...
Flawed consultation on Standard Essential Patents launched by UK Government
Earlier this month, the UK Government unveiled its latest consultation on Standard Essential Patents, proposing some “practical steps” which they are considering to “create a more balanced system” both for licensing and litigati...
A Cloud of Uncertainty: Implications of G 1/23 for Software Companies
On 2 July 2025, the Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office (EPO) issued its landmark decision in case G 1/23 (Solar Cell Sealing Materials and Solar Cell Module), a ruling that has sparked a wide range of interpretations, from “no...
Patent Dispute Resolved: JGL's Hoist Not Infringing
Jeff Gosling Limited (“JGL”) sued Autochair Limited in the IPEC for a declaration of non-infringement concerning its “Apex Assist” hoist and Autochair’s patent, which covers a particular set-up of a hoist for lifting wheel...
Balancing Free Speech and Fair Competition: How Section 12(3) HRA Applies to Threats
Bargain Busting Ltd v Shenzhen SKE Technology Co Ltd & Ors [2025] EWHC 1239 (Ch) Summary This judgment concerns an application by the first Defendant for an interim injunction to restrain the Claimant from making threats of proceedings for trad...
Avoiding Added Matter Pitfalls: Mastering Amendments Before the EPO
“Added matter” objections are a common and often frustrating hurdle in European patent prosecution. The European Patent Office (EPO) takes a particularly strict stance on claim amendments, especially when compared to more flexible jurisdict...
Building a Resilient Quantum Patent Portfolio: Winning the Race to File First
A key question for those working in a fast-paced and complex industry such as quantum technology is when to patent any technological developments. The earlier the filing date of the patent application, the earlier you can start to talk about your inven...
AI and Bitstreams at the Core of China’s Patent Update
On April 30, 2025, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released a draft amendment of the Patent Examination Guidelines (for public comment), proposing further revisions to the current Guidelines, which only came into effect ...
Plausibility at the forefront of the UK High Court’s decision in finding AstraZeneca’s patent covering blockbuster diabetes drug invalid
Following hot behind the interim injunction decisions regarding the same subject matter between AstraZeneca and Glenmark (and covered previously in this newsflash here), on 28 April 2025, the High Court handed down its judgment on validity of the paten...
Quantum Sensors: What are they and why do they matter to healthcare?
The UN says we are in a year of quantum, celebrating 100 years since the development of quantum mechanics. While quantum computing is often the main talking point, the other areas of quantum tech, such as quantum sensors are getting increased attention...
Court of Appeal overturns High Court’s decision and grants interim injunction to AstraZeneca against Glenmark
AstraZeneca v Glenmark has seen the parties visiting the courts several times since the validity trial (heard in March of this year) over the past few weeks. This case relates to AstraZeneca’s blockbuster drug Forxiga, used to treat type II diabe...
Exploring IP in a Space Sector Product
Introduction Innovative space sector businesses generate IP all the time. But it can be difficult to appreciate the range of IP being generated, or the value of that IP. In order to help illustrate, we’ve come up with a space sector product of...