Fri 22nd Nov 2024

It’s an exciting time to be a patent professional specialising in AI and Quantum!

Thu 14th Nov 2024

Patent Attorney Peter Jenkins will be speaking at the RSC’s 2024 Intellectual Property Law Seminar.

Mon 11th Nov 2024

What an honour to have two Patent Attorneys conduct IP audits on Earthshot Prize 2024 nominees.

Thu 17th Oct 2024

Patent and Trade Mark Attorney Felix Daul has joined our Munich office as a Partner

Thu 10th Oct 2024

Page White Farrer Patent Attorney Andy McKinlay has been announced as a mentor for TopTech 2025.

Tue 8th Oct 2024

Ada Lovelace Day is held on the second Tuesday of every October to celebrate and increase the profile of achievements of women in science.

Tue 1st Oct 2024

Partner and Patent Attorney Andy McKinlay is promoted to Director of Page, White & Farrer Limited.

Thu 12th Sep 2024

Page White Farrer Patent Attorneys Virginia Driver and Tom Woodhouse have contributed to the second edition of The Law of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Thu 8th Aug 2024

A new Morris brand for the 21st century confirmed by the Appointed Person on appeal following cancellation of unused Morris trade marks.

Fri 26th Jul 2024

The UKIPO continues to buck historical trends and remains a more favourable venue than the EPO for protecting certain AI inventions.

Tue 23rd Jul 2024

The good, the bad and the ugly implications of the UK Court of Appeal decision in Comptroller - General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks and Emotional Perception AI Limited for patenting AI in the UK.

Wed 3rd Jul 2024

Listings are based on recommendations made by clients and peers to FT research partner Statista

Sun 23rd Jun 2024

This International Women in Engineering Day, Catriona Collection reflects on the inspiring life of the computer pioneer Grace Hopper.

Wed 19th Jun 2024

Yes! Although registrations of sounds remain rare. Trade Mark Attorney James Cornish explains how to register these kinds of intellectual property right, which can indicate the services of a business.

Mon 10th Jun 2024

Patent Attorney Liz Mills explores the expansion of public access to submissions filed at the UPC.

Tue 28th May 2024

The UK’s approach to patenting AI inventions could change very soon! The High Court’s unexpected decision in the case of Emotional Perception AI Ltd v Comptroller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks has been appealed by the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO).

Wed 22nd May 2024

There’s no better time to invest in semiconductor research and development in the UK. Patent Attorney Liz Mills explains why.

Fri 10th May 2024

Since the beginning of this year (2024), the UPC has published information on the cases being filed at the UPC on a monthly basis.

Wed 24th Apr 2024

Did you know you don’t automatically own your innovation?

Wed 10th Apr 2024

Partner and Trade Mark Attorney Taryn Byrne is promoted to Director of Page, White & Farrer Limited.

Wed 20th Mar 2024

The GreenTech Catalyst Conference comes to Leeds on 25 April and we’re involved!

Tue 19th Mar 2024

On 21 March Patent Attorney Sam Judge will be speaking on ‘The Role of Patents in Promoting Innovation and Economic Growth.’

Mon 18th Mar 2024

On 18 April 2024, Page White Farrer will be connecting with IP professionals in Leeds around the world in an international event coordinated by AIPLA (American Intellectual Property Law Association) Women in IP.

Sun 17th Mar 2024

Clare Stephens explains the impact of the Chancellor's Spring Budget on the UK's science and technology industries.

Fri 15th Mar 2024

On 21 March 2024 Patent Attorney Olivier Martinez will be on hand to discuss how our team can help agricultural innovators safeguard their innovations through patents.

Thu 7th Mar 2024

Page White Farrer named one of the top 10 filers in the UK.

Thu 7th Mar 2024

On 22 March Patent Attorney Andy McKinlay will be speaking at the Regulations, Standards and Intellectual Property Panel, highlighting the key challenges and barriers of ‘innovation across the surgical pathway.’

Tue 5th Mar 2024

The EPO brings welcome clarity to the examination practice concerning sufficiency and technical effect of AI inventions, confirming that, in general, there is no need to disclose a specific training set.

Mon 4th Mar 2024

As announced in the Decision of the Administrative Council of 14 December 2023, effective from 1 April 2024 many of the fees of the EPO will be increasing.

Mon 4th Mar 2024

The WTR 1000 recognises the world’s leading trademark practices and practitioners, recognising those with world-class legal trademark expertise.

Tue 27th Feb 2024

Patent Attorney Sam Judge explains more about how to apply for funding.

Tue 6th Feb 2024

Wed 3rd Jan 2024

The Supreme Court has ruled that only a human can be an ‘inventor’ in patent law. What are the real-world ramifications for individuals and companies seeking to protect innovations devised using AI?

Fri 1st Dec 2023

The UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) has issued a practice update regarding the examination of patent applications involving artificial neural networks (ANNs). Patent Attorney Thomas Mahon explains more.

Tue 28th Nov 2023

Emma Berry reflects on an insightful day at the first UK MedTech Innovation Assembly hosted by Halston Group.

Mon 27th Nov 2023

The UK High Court has issued a game changing judgement in Emotional Perception AI Ltd vs Comptroller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (2023).

Tue 14th Nov 2023

One of the money- saving “tricks of the trade” of the UK trade mark registration system is protecting a series of trade marks in a single application. This can save application and renewal costs and make your portfolio easier to manage.

Thu 9th Nov 2023

Patent Attorney David Roberts explains the Legal Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office’s decision requiring wet signatures on all assignments of European patent applications.

Mon 6th Nov 2023

On 8 November Patent Attorney Sam Judge is presenting on ‘Navigating a maze: AI and software in chemical patents.’

Fri 13th Oct 2023

Patent and Trade Mark Attorney Peter Kindermann has joined our Munich office as a Partner

Wed 20th Sep 2023

Do you need to update your UK address for service? From 1 January 2024, the only new addresses for service that will be accepted in the UK will be those in the UK, Gibraltar, or the Channel Islands

Mon 31st Jul 2023

When is a product that has actually been marketed not prior art?

Wed 19th Jul 2023

Virginia joined a distinguished panel for a 'Fireside chat on Leveraging the Investment Ecosystem', an Accelerating Funding for Women in Business event run by Fund Her North, an organisation which supports funding for female founded companies and in conjunction with the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator.

Thu 13th Jul 2023

Mon 10th Jul 2023

A new Morris brand for the 21st century, following cancellation of unused Morris trade marks.

Wed 5th Jul 2023

19 companies selected for the 2023 list.

Sat 3rd Jun 2023

An opportunity for judges, attorneys and a member of the administrative committee to discuss important issues shortly before the start of the new Unified Patent Court (UPC)

Wed 24th May 2023

Virginia Driver contributes to a white paper exploring the emerging innovations and challenges of the new world of MedTech and what the future holds for the industry.

Wed 26th Apr 2023

Virginia Driver named one of the top 250 women in IP in 2023.

Tue 11th Apr 2023

Changes to R&D tax relief for costs relating to innovations that are not covered by a granted patent, took effect on 1 April 2023.

Tue 11th Apr 2023

How Patent Box tax relief can help companies holding a qualifying patent reduce their rate of corporation tax.

Mon 20th Mar 2023

Once you have decided to go ahead with an FTO search to establish that you will have freedom to operate in your chosen markets, how do you ensure that your IP resources are focused most effectively?

Mon 13th Mar 2023

A freedom to operate (FTO) analysis should be an essential part of the intellectual property (IP) management and compliance process for new product development in every manufacturing or merchandising company.

Mon 20th Feb 2023

The Unitary Patent is now ready to enter into operation on 1 June 2023, after the German government deposited its instrument of ratification of the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (UPCA) with the Council of the European Union on the 17 February 2023.

Fri 17th Feb 2023

We are delighted Page White Farrer’s experts have been ranked among the top 1000 worldwide for trade mark prosecution and strategy by the World Trade Mark Review.

Thu 9th Feb 2023

In an article for The Life Sciences Lawyer first published in January 2023, partner Roona Deb discusses the admissibility of post-published evidence for the assessment of an inventive step at the EPO.

Mon 6th Feb 2023

As part of the digitisation strategy of the European Patent Office (EPO), from 1 November, documents will be deemed to be notified on the date they bear and deadlines will be calculated from that date rather than the mailing date plus 10 days.

Thu 2nd Feb 2023

On 25 January 2023, the UK IPO announced new procedures which provide clarity about the requirements for UK representation and a UK address for service for trade mark and design matters, post Brexit.

Mon 23rd Jan 2023

Congratulations, your patent has been granted! Now what?

Mon 9th Jan 2023

Page White Farrer is pleased to announce the promotion of European patent attorney Dr. Andrew McKinlay in our Leeds office from a senior associate to partner.

Mon 9th Jan 2023

The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) have opened their call for applications from innovators, entrepreneurs, start ups or companies with sustainable solutions and inventions worthy of being nominated for the Earthshot Prize 2023.

Mon 19th Dec 2022

Season's Greetings from the team at Page White Farrer. Our offices will be closed on the following days over the holiday period:

Mon 19th Dec 2022

As part of its dedication to promote inclusivity in the field of intellectual property, patent attorney David Roberts has been providing 1:1 mentoring to an undergraduate student, Sofie Spasov.

Thu 15th Dec 2022

In the second of our IP Guides for Startups, patent attorney Elizabeth Mills explains what is happening at the patent office while you wait to hear if you have been granted a patent.

Mon 5th Dec 2022

In the first in a series of posts which explore themes around sustainable innovation, Kelda Style looks at the issues facing companies with an eye on the Earthshot Prize and the 2030 goal of finding and growing the solutions that will repair our planet in the next ten years.

Mon 28th Nov 2022

On 22 November 2022, Virginia Driver, European Patent Attorney and AI intellectual property specialist attended an event on ‘Levelling up and invest in Yorkshire and the North East’ hosted by the Institute of Directors in London.

Tue 22nd Nov 2022

In 2021, Page White Farrer signed up to support two mentoring schemes, one of which was ‘Black Lawyers Matter’ which was established by the Stephen James Partnership in an effort to level the playing field for Black lawyers in the UK.

Tue 15th Nov 2022

A patent is a useful business tool as it can be utilised to stop competitors from copying your invention, to attract investors, for publicity and marketing, and to obtain revenue through licensing. 

Mon 10th Oct 2022

A provisional timeline was published for the implementation of the Unified Patent Court on 6 October 2022, outlining the key activities and milestones between now and April 2023.

Fri 7th Oct 2022

The Department of International Trade is offering an Internationalisation Fund for businesses based in England as part of the European Regional Development Funding (ERDF). The scheme offers match-funded grants of between £1,000 - £9,000.

Thu 29th Sep 2022

Innovate UK, as part of UK Research and Innovation, is offering up to 50 Women in Innovation Awards to women entrepreneurs in UK businesses.  Each award will provide £50,000 of funding. The competition is specifically for women with exciting, innovative ideas and ambitious plans that will inspire others.

Fri 16th Sep 2022

We have updated our useful map showing the options for registering a patent across 44 European states under the European Patent Convention as the European Patent Organisation welcomes Montenegro to its growing number of member states from 1 October 2022.

Wed 7th Sep 2022

Yes, you can patent an app. We are often asked this question by app developers, and many find that answer surprising because there is a myth that it is not possible to obtain a patent for computer code.

Tue 30th Aug 2022

Upon the grant of a European patent, a parallel national German patent will normally lose its effect within the overlapping scope of both patents.

Mon 15th Aug 2022

The UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has published its summary of findings from its consultation on whether the ecosystem around Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) is functioning efficiently and effectively.

Wed 20th Jul 2022

The process of setting up the Unified Patent Court is gaining momentum after a number of significant decisions were made at the meeting on 8 July 2022.

Mon 18th Jul 2022

On 3 October 2022, amendments to Canadian Patent Rules will come into force, introducing changes to patent prosecution in Canada.

Tue 12th Jul 2022

On 17 June 2022, members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) reached an agreement to suspend patent protection for the production and supply of Covid-19 vaccines with the aim of increasing access to Covid-19 vaccines in developing countries.

Mon 11th Jul 2022

The EPO Legal Board of Appeal issued a decision (J 8/20) in December 2021 to dismiss an appeal against a decision to refuse a patent application the basis that the designation of inventor named ‘DABUS’, an AI system, as the inventor.

Fri 8th Jul 2022

Innovate UK are today launching a new series of grants totaling £30 million. The Fast Start: Innovation Grants application process is open for entry to innovative UK small and micro-businesses from 11 to 26 July 2022.

Fri 24th Jun 2022

Page White Farrer attorneys attended a variety of events over the course of London Tech Week, from conferences to webinars, gaining key insights to further develop their expertise in tech IP in a range of fields.

Mon 20th Jun 2022

For any business which is launching a new product, tough decisions need to be made about where to invest your (often scarce) financial resources.  Should you attend this trade fair? Or visit more suppliers? Invest in more marketing or build up the sales team?

Wed 8th Jun 2022

Page White Farrer is pleased to announce the promotion of three European patent attorneys in our London office.

Mon 30th May 2022

A new global sequence listing standard (WIPO Standard ST.26) will be coming into effect on 1 July 2022. New PCT and national/regional applications filed after 1 July 2022 will need to comply with ST.26.

Tue 24th May 2022

Trainee patent attorney Siya Maini discusses her first year working in the IP industry after joining Page White Farrer.

Tue 17th May 2022

Our office at Bedford House, John Street in London has a whole new look after renovations were made to modernise the interior.

Wed 4th May 2022

On 5 May 2022, the Geneva text of the Hague Agreement (1999) will enter into force in China.  This will enable applicants seeking registered design protection via the Hague system to designate China, as well as up to 93 other countries, when filing a Hague design application. 

Mon 25th Apr 2022

Thu 14th Apr 2022

As a supporter of sustainable innovation, Page White Farrer is proud to be sponsoring Leeds Digital Festival this year, which kicks off next week with a three-day celebration of digital culture from 25-27 April 2022.

Thu 3rd Mar 2022

USPTO report examines overall patenting trends as well as trends in patent filings and value indicators in the four most-patented 5G-related technologies.

Mon 14th Feb 2022

The question of whether the European Patent Convention confers jurisdiction on the EPO to determine whether a party validly claims to be a successor in title as referred to in Article 87(1)(b) has been referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal.

Wed 26th Jan 2022

Decisions by the UKIPO in trade mark cases can be appealed to the Appointed Person or to the court. The Appointed Person is a senior lawyer who is an expert in IP law and their decision is final, in contrast to the court, where decisions can be appealed further.

Tue 18th Jan 2022

Could your invention be in with a chance of a £1 million Earthshot prize?

Mon 10th Jan 2022

The European Patent Office (EPO) has ruled that an AI system will not be recognised as an inventor for the purposes of obtaining a European patent as, unlike a human, a system does not have legal capacity.

Thu 16th Dec 2021

Top of the IP strategy agenda for any patent owners in 2022 should be the Unified Patent Court (UPC) and the unitary patent (UP), according to Olaf Ungerer, a German and European Patent Attorney in Munich.

Mon 29th Nov 2021

If you have a software or AI solution to a technical problem where there is currently no off-the-shelf solution, you will need protect your intellectual property with a patent before launching it in the public domain.

Fri 26th Nov 2021

Our patent attorneys highlight some of the information that you need to provide to ensure that your assignment sails through at the EPO without delay.

Tue 9th Nov 2021

Patent attorney Roona Deb, specialising in life sciences, explores EPO’s move to address ambiguity over post-published data in proving a patent’s inventive step.

Thu 4th Nov 2021

There has been an extension to the period for PCT applications to enter the national phase in Germany, to 31 months which will come into force from 1 May 2022.

Mon 1st Nov 2021

If set up and administered well, patent pools can provide significant benefits for the market, such as reductions in transaction costs, more reasonable aggregate royal-ties, and a better ability to create a level playing field. These benefits can make pa-tent pools an attractive option for standard-based licensing where there are multiple licensors holding SEPs.

Wed 6th Oct 2021

James Cornish, head of the trade mark team at Page White Farrer, outlines key steps that you need to take in the trade mark registration process.

Fri 10th Sep 2021

One of the greatest concerns regarding the use of patent pools, especially by technology giants, is that collaboration can also lead to anti-competitive practices.  So, while patent pools have many benefits, especially for emerging technologies, the risks cannot be ignored.

Tue 31st Aug 2021

The Second Patent Law Modernisation Act (Patentrechtsmodernisierungsgesetz) aims to simplify and modernise the Patent Act (Patentgesetz) and other IP laws in Germany and it came into force on 18 August 2021.

Wed 4th Aug 2021

Patent pools have a long history, and one of the first patent pools was formed in 1856 for sewing machines.  These days they form an important part of the basis for industry standards in regard to technologies which are necessary (essential) to develop compatible products and services. Examples can be seen in the fields of mobile communications, information coding, public health etc. and they often relate to technologies that are yet to be fully developed.

Thu 29th Jul 2021

We often encounter software engineers who are under the impression that it is not possible to obtain a patent for their software, and that their invention or innovation is protected by copyright or simply not suitable for a patent.

Fri 23rd Jul 2021

Page White Farrer is pleased to announce the promotion of three promising European patent attorneys in our London office.

Thu 22nd Jul 2021

Where a company is developing technology which needs to adhere to industry-wide standards, then it may be advantageous or necessary to participate in a patent pool.

Mon 19th Jul 2021

On 16 July 2021, the Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBoA) of the European Patent Office issued its decision in case G 1/21

Fri 16th Jul 2021

As a member of IP Inclusive’s senior leaders’ diversity think tank, director and chartered patent attorney David Roberts has signed a pledge to provide leadership for improving diversity and inclusion within Page White Farrer.

Wed 14th Jul 2021

Yet another step forward has been made towards the establishment of the Unified Patent Court, with the rejection by the German Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) of the two applications for preliminary injunction against the ratification Bill of the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court.

Tue 13th Jul 2021

Congratulations! You have come up with THE BIG IDEA. You think you know how to solve a problem in a way that people are likely to pay for. It could be life changing, it is so exciting!!

Thu 1st Jul 2021

On 22 June 2021, the Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office (EPO) confirmed that a European patent application can be refused under Articles 97(2) and 125 EPC if it claims the same subject-matter as a European patent which has been granted to the same applicant. The Enlarged Board of Appeal is the highest authority at the EPO.

Mon 28th Jun 2021

Sarah Halpin discusses her journey from working as a data scientist in the financial services sector, to joining Page White Farrer as a technical assistant and trainee patent attorney. She also outlines her day-to-day role in the firm and key responsibilities for those interested in starting a career in intellectual property.

Fri 4th Jun 2021

If you are interested in the law and innovation, then intellectual property support might be a career path to consider. 

Fri 21st May 2021

Whether you have come up with a new company name yourself or you have invested in the services of a specialist branding agency, it is important to ensure that any name that you choose does not infringe the intellectual property rights of another brand owner. In a worst-case scenario, you could find yourself having to rebrand as well as compensate the other brand owner.

Thu 6th May 2021

If you have spotted another trade mark within the insurance sector which is alarmingly similar to one of your own, what can you do to stop your competitor from using that mark?

Wed 5th May 2021

Matthew Codd graduated from the University of Manchester (Master of Physics) in 2014 and began working at Page White Farrer. He qualified as a Patent Attorney in 2021 and mainly works in the electronics team. We asked him to look back on the past few years and answer some of the questions which he might have had as a student looking into a career in intellectual property.

Tue 27th Apr 2021

Is there hidden value in your designs? On International Design Day, David Roberts outlines the key benefits of registering your designs in the UK and abroad.

Tue 13th Apr 2021

When the UK left the EU, new intellectual property rights and exclusions were created in the system of protection for designs. These changes mean that companies and designers have some important choices to make about where to disclose designs first; whether to register designs; and if so, where to register their designs first. Oliver Spies and David Roberts highlight the three key lessons for design owners.

Mon 15th Mar 2021

Olaf Ungerer, a partner and European patent attorney in Munich, highlights key lessons for patent attorneys concerning the patentability of computer-implemented simulations, following the long-awaited decision from the European Patent Office (EPO) on the referred questions in G1/19.

Thu 11th Mar 2021

The Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office (EPO) has given its long-awaited decision on the referred questions in G1/19 concerning the patentability of computer-implemented simulations.

Fri 5th Mar 2021

With AI applications developing faster than the regulators can consult and implement new laws, what are the priorities to be addressed in regard to patents and artificial intelligence?

Mon 1st Mar 2021

Insurance is a mature and highly competitive sector, with over 400 operators in the UK and thousands of products. Without a tangible visible product for consumers to see, differences in service offerings can be subtle and hard for consumers to distinguish between. 

Thu 18th Feb 2021

The latest report from the EU IPO is the result of research by the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property into ‘the impact, role and public perception of intellectual property in the economy of the EU.

Wed 20th Jan 2021

The UK fashion industry is worth £26 billion, employs over half a million people, and is constantly and rapidly innovating as, every season, exciting new brands and products are launched.

Thu 31st Dec 2020

Page White Farrer is delighted that two of its expert patent attorneys, Virginia Driver and Tom Woodhouse, have contributed to a book on artificial intelligence and the law around this, with a chapter delivering insights on intellectual property.

Tue 22nd Dec 2020

In its last meeting last Friday, the Federal Council in Germany approved the Agreement on a European Patent Court (UPCA).

Thu 10th Dec 2020

The advice of the UK government on its website is as follows:

“We strongly recommend you seek legal advice before applying for a patent, as it can be a complex and costly process”.

Mon 7th Dec 2020

If you have established some strong marketing channels, with an extensive database, good customer knowledge and a productive sales engine, you may be on the lookout for new products which might compliment your existing portfolio.

Fri 4th Dec 2020

At the end of November, the German Bundestag voted through the draft ratification bill which includes consent to the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (UPCA).  

Wed 25th Nov 2020

Subject to final legislative implementation, from 1 January 2021 you will need an address for service in the UK, Gibraltar or the Channel Islands for new UK patent, registered trade mark and registered design applications, for granted EP(UK) patents if a representative for the proprietor is to be appointed, and for any proceedings concerning patents. An address for service in the EEA will no longer be acceptable.

Fri 20th Nov 2020

On 10 November 2020 David Roberts, partner and patent attorney with Page White and Farrer, joined over 30 IP professionals to establish a new high-level diversity think tank.

Thu 19th Nov 2020

For EU design registrations which are registered and published by the end of 2020, an equivalent “cloned” UK registered design will be automatically created at no cost to the EU registered design rights holder. 

Fri 13th Nov 2020

After the UK leaves the EU at the end of the Brexit transition period on 1 January 2021, new EU registered community designs (RCDs) will no longer provide registered design protection in the UK.

After 1 January 2021, if you wish to obtain both EU and UK registered design protection, it will be necessary to apply for these registered designs separately.

Sat 17th Oct 2020

Innovate UK has published its updated ‘Design in Innovation Strategy’ to cover the period 2020 to 2024, as part of the government’s commitment to increase public and private investment in R&D activities.

Wed 14th Oct 2020

Figures published by the UK Intellectual Property Office show a marked upturn in the number of filings of trade mark and design right applications since April 2020.

Fri 25th Sep 2020

This is a brief note on the position concerning how EU-wide trade marks and EU-wide registered designs will be affected by Brexit from 1 January 2021. The advice below is applicable to trade marks and designs equally.

Please note the European Patent Office is not an EU institution and European patents and patent applications are not affected by Brexit.

This is a very important notice for the owners of EU-wide trade marks and designs. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Mon 24th Aug 2020

An audit of your intellectual property will pay dividends as it enables a business to identify new revenue streams, enhance business value, implement best practice, assess and reduce the risk of competition.  It is particularly important for any business with a strong brand or knowledge-based products or services.

Wed 12th Aug 2020

Your logo is an important part of your branding, and the last thing you want is to see another business using an identical or very similar logo that might cause confusion amongst customers and which could devalue your brand.

Fri 17th Jul 2020

By 17 June 2020, according to Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), some $11.4 billion had been donated to help tackle the COVID-19 outbreak.

Large donations have been made by some of the world’s leading companies and foundations, and universities are racing to develop a vaccine.

Fri 10th Jul 2020

Great business ideas usually start off with a working title, as entrepreneurs focus on product development, designs, packaging logistics and business plans. 

Tue 16th Jun 2020

The EPO has announced a change in the systems for exchanging priority documents electronically with the JPO which means that the electronic exchange of priority documents will no longer be automatic from January 2022.

Thu 4th Jun 2020

Page White and Farrer in London are pleased to announce the good news of the promotion of six of our expert patent and trade mark attorneys.

Mon 1st Jun 2020

In an article for The Times Higher Education (published May 30, 2020), intellectual property strategists Virginia Driver and Tom Woodhouse have urged universities to guard their IP rights to ensure COVID-19 innovations reach the vulnerable in poorer nations.

Thu 28th May 2020

When establishing a new brand, it is important to avoid spending time and resources on registering a trade mark brand which is likely to be refused by the Intellectual Property Office.

Thu 21st May 2020

A recent decision by the German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) relates to European Patent Convention (EPC) law and provides guidance for software companies seeking to protect an inventive step in a graphical user interface at the European Patent Office (EPO).

Mon 27th Apr 2020

Invalidation is the legal procedure which allows anyone to try and remove a trade mark from a register and can relate to the entire registration, or only some of the goods or services covered by the trade mark. This is important if:

Thu 23rd Apr 2020

Patent attorney Virginia Driver recently gave a presentation to the Bruntwood SciTech Wednesday community, looking at how individual innovators can protect their inventions and creations.

Tue 21st Apr 2020

Sometimes you expect something to happen, but it still surprises you when it does occur.

Wed 8th Apr 2020

We hope that you are keeping well and are settling into this new way of working.

Mon 6th Apr 2020

It seems that some of the Intellectual Property Offices are experiencing issues, but some have arranged extensions of deadlines. Some offices have closed. Problems are occurring in the courts where some hearings are being cancelled.

Fri 27th Mar 2020

The UKIPO announced changes to its services on 27 March 2020 as a result of the business /postal disruption during the coronavirus pandemic.

Fri 27th Mar 2020

The UKIPO issued details of changes to their services on 27 March 2020 as a result of the disruption to applicants’ businesses and the ability to receive and send post during the current coronavirus pandemic.

Mon 23rd Mar 2020

Progress towards a Unified Patent Court for Europe has been dealt a blow after the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany declared the ‘Act of Approval’ void.

Wed 11th Mar 2020

Finding and entering new markets is key to the growth of any business, whether this is selling to a new industry sector or into a foreign territory. But this can be time-consuming and labour intensive and difficult to do well if you do not have anyone who speaks the language, understands the sector or is familiar with differences in the cultural or regulatory environment.

Wed 5th Feb 2020

With talk of the House of Lords heading to Yorkshire, Page White and Farrer is one step ahead! The leading firm of patent and trade mark attorneys has taken new office space in Platform, the trendy hub for tech and innovation in Leeds city centre.

Thu 30th Jan 2020

Following the UK general election and conclusion of the EU Withdrawal Agreement, there is now a new stage in the departure of the UK from the European Union.

Tue 28th Jan 2020

A Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC) is a form of intellectual property that extends the protection of patented active ingredients present in pharmaceutical or plant protection products. SPCs serve to compensate patent holders for the effective loss in patent term that occurs due to delays in receiving marketing authorisation.

Fri 24th Jan 2020

The European Patent Office (EPO) Board of Appeal has given its decision in case T844/18 regarding the CRISPR gene editing patent owned by the Broad Institute, MIT and Harvard College, declaring the patent invalid over prior art that was only citeable because some of the patent’s priority claims were not valid.

Wed 22nd Jan 2020

The German government is planning to introduce an exception to the automatic injunction (paragraph 139 of the German Patent Law).

Fri 20th Dec 2019

Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year from everyone at Page White and Farrer.

Fri 11th Oct 2019

Whilst it is understandable to be enthusiastic about a proposed new brand, or product-line, don’t make the mistake of oversharing your ideas.

Tue 27th Aug 2019

In a new decision X ZB 9/18 (“Abstandsberechnungsverfahren”) of 7 May 2019 the German Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof or BGH) has clarified the responsibilities of each of the German patent authorities for receiving and examining divisional applications at different procedural stages.

Wed 21st Aug 2019

Oliver Spies was interviewed on IP protection by Carsten Bolk of theUntold for the Stories4Brands online magazine, first published on 13 August 2019.

Tue 16th Jul 2019

Page White and Farrer has been acknowledged as one of the leading patent law firms in Europe by the Financial Times in its 2019 survey report.

Mon 1st Apr 2019

We are pleased to announce that Oliver Spies, an intellectual property expert and attorney at law, has joined our Munich office. With nearly twenty years’ experience in IP law, Oliver advises clients on the protection and exploitation of trade marks and design rights in Germany, the EU and worldwide, as well as unfair competition laws in Germany.

Fri 22nd Mar 2019

Amidst the ongoing uncertainty regarding Brexit, this is the current position and the anticipated effects of Brexit on trade marks and designs.

Mon 21st Jan 2019

Simply, patents protect inventions. Our qualified patent attorneys have put together this collection of frequently asked questions to assist you with securing patent
protections for your intellectual property.

Sat 19th Jan 2019

Your brand comprises many elements, including your company and domain names and as with all your intellectual property assets, it is important to take active steps to protect them.

Wed 16th Jan 2019

As you will be aware, the UK faces continued uncertainty over its relationship with the EU following Parliament's vote to reject the withdrawal deal. Nonetheless, whatever happens, your European intellectual property is safe with us.

Sat 5th Jan 2019

A registered trade mark is an asset, which can be sold, licensed, and mortgaged. A trade mark registration gives a monopoly to stop certain use by others of similar marks
on similar goods. It gives you more certainty that a trade mark is available for your use, as it has already been through an opposition stage

Fri 23rd Nov 2018

When seeking to protect your brand from cheap counterfeits, it is advisable to set up a customs watch but what happens when customs officials discover fake goods?

Tue 20th Nov 2018

Page White and Farrer is a signatory to the IP Inclusive Charter and is committed to supporting equality, diversity and inclusion in the intellectual property sector. We promote these three principles in all aspect of employment practice, including recruitment, career development and workplace ethos.

Mon 29th Oct 2018

In a typical year, counterfeit goods with a retail value of over €600 million are seized by customs across the European Union. Counterfeits entering the European Union include goods from China, Iran, Turkey, India and Hong Kong. Around 5 per cent of the seizures in the EU are in the UK.

Tue 25th Sep 2018

On 24 September, the UK government released its latest pre-Brexit updates for businesses in regard to the implications for intellectual property. These papers outline the situation in the event of a ‘no deal’ scenario, explain the implications for businesses in the UK, the EU and other countries, and they highlight any actions which are required by businesses and other stakeholders.

Mon 24th Sep 2018

With a history dating back to the Sumerians, Egyptians and Celts - there is still much work going on to optimize beer production with new inventions in the field of brewing, particularly in Germany.

Thu 9th Aug 2018

The government has signalled its intention to ensure that the UK will remain one of the best places in the world to obtain and protect your intellectual property.

Mon 6th Aug 2018

On 27 March 2018, the German Federal Court of Justice (the Bundesgerichtshof – Germany’s highest court of civil and criminal jurisdiction) made a decision relating to case X ZB 18/16 ‘Feldmausbekämpfung’ which confirms that methods cannot benefit from patent protection under the utility model in Germany.

Thu 2nd Aug 2018

On Friday 27 July 2018, Page White and Farrer took part in the annual Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) football tournament. The tournament was held in Shoreditch, London and this year saw 16 intellectual property law firms from across the UK take part.

Mon 2nd Jul 2018

The outcome, implications and effect of Brexit remain unknown and unclear. However on 19 March 2018 the European Commission published a draft agreement indicating terms that have been agreed with the UK in the event of a wider agreement concerning Brexit and those yet to be agreed.

Fri 29th Jun 2018

The Supreme Court’s intellectual property expertise will be strengthened with the appointment of Sir David Kitchin, who will take up his role on 1 October 2018.

Wed 27th Jun 2018

We are pleased to announce that Mr. Dirk C. Söltenfuss has joined our Munich office as a partner.

Mon 11th Jun 2018

Subject to any transitional arrangements or other changes in law following Brexit, scheduled for 29 March 2019 when the United Kingdom will leave the European Union, there will be no copyright or unregistered design right protection in the UK for the 3‑dimensional aspects of industrial designs for nationals of most non‑EU countries. This includes nationals of, amongst others, the US, Canada, Australia, China, Japan and South Korea.

Fri 25th May 2018

The UK has recently ratified the Unified Patent Court Agreement (UPCA) and the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities (PPI). Olaf Ungerer discusses the the impact that this will have on Brexit negotiations.

Fri 18th May 2018

This week at INTA 10,600 brand owners and intellectual property experts from 150 countries will be congregating in Seattle to discuss the latest developments in trade mark protection around the world.

Mon 7th May 2018

Last year saw yet another period of growth for the Hague System as the international registration body for the protection of industrial designs.

Thu 19th Apr 2018

In Activis v Eli Lilly Lord Neuberger referred to certain circumstances where it would be appropriate to consider prosecution history to assist in claim interpretation. Jeff Daniels explains that this does not open the door generally to file wrapper estoppel, and reference to the prosecution history is the exception and not the rule.

Wed 18th Apr 2018

Deceptive? Descriptive? Distinctive? Do you know the difference when it comes to trade marks? The Page White and Farrer trade mark team has put together a helpful glossary of terms for brand owners and brand managers.

Wed 18th Apr 2018

David Roberts examines the UKIPO’s approach to Landmark Graphics Corporation’s application to patent geological computer software and the requirement for a technical contribution.

Thu 5th Apr 2018

At this year’s iF seminar in London, Virginia Driver was one of a panel of three industry experts discussing the potential for UK SMEs to become leaders in innovation, research and development. The panel discussed a wide variety of topics, including entrepreneurship, patent protection and keys to success.

Sun 1st Apr 2018

The Hague Agreement or Hague System, is a procedure that allows for the international registration of industrial designs through a single application filed at the International Bureau (IB) of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

Sun 1st Apr 2018

The UK has ratified the Unified Patent Court Agreement, an international treaty which provides for a single judgment on patent disputes across all the states which have signed up to it.

Thu 1st Mar 2018

Patent attorney David Roberts reviews the CJEU judgement C-361/15 - Easy Sanitary Solutions v Group Nivelles and give some background and implications of the case.

Fri 23rd Feb 2018

The European Patent Office (EPO) and the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) met on 24 January to confirm that Brexit will have no effect on UK membership of the EPO, or on European patents in the UK.

Mon 19th Feb 2018

On 6 April 2018 patent fees payable to the UK IPO are changing. The fee changes apply to some filing, prosecution and grant fees. The fee changes also apply to some post-grant renewal fees.

Fri 6th Oct 2017

On 30 August 2017, in a report commissioned by the UK government, Sir John Bell set out an ambitious vision for the UK health and life science sector, with the aim of making the UK a world-leader in this sector over the next 20 years.

Mon 2nd Oct 2017

James Cornish, Chartered Trade Mark Attorney, reviews the EU IPO Appeal Board and General Court pharmaceutical case law, between January and August 2017 in advance of the Pharmaceutical Trade Mark Group “PTMG” Autumn conference, to provide concise guidance on recent legal principles to help win pharmaceutical cases.

Fri 22nd Sep 2017

The UK Intellectual Property Office has published a study on the performance of the UK patent system, and concluded that it operates in an overall positive way.

Wed 20th Sep 2017

There are over 200 UK laws and regulations governing promotional communications and advertising and, while consumers increasingly use social media to make direct complaints, a key part of the control of advertising in the UK is the Advertising Standards Authority (the ASA). This is a self-regulated, non-government body paid for largely by the advertising industry, which regulates the content of adverts, sales promotions and direct marketing and has established codes.

Fri 15th Sep 2017

James Cornish, trade mark attorney at Page White and Farrer discusses the current UK laws on misleading marketing and how these laws could impact on the way trade marks are used.

Fri 1st Sep 2017

Brand protection and trade mark attorney James Cornish offers some essential advice for brand owners about marketing to consumers in the UK and following best marketing practices to avoid black listed activites.

Wed 23rd Aug 2017

Trade mark registrations in the UK and EU may be cancellable if they have not been used for a five year period and there are no proper reasons for the non-use.

Tue 15th Aug 2017

Are you aware of the unfair commercial practices which are prohibited in UK consumer marketing? James Cornish, chartered trade mark attorney at Page White and Farrer explains.

Tue 1st Aug 2017

There are many rules governing the sale of goods, so when selling your branded goods or services you should note that criminal liability can sometimes arise in the context of marketing materials that do not comply with these rules.

Tue 1st Aug 2017

The partners of Page White and Farrer are delighted to announce that German and European Patent Attorney Olaf Ungerer joins us today to launch our new office in Munich.

Mon 17th Jul 2017

The UK BioIndustry Association is celebrating getting a public commitment from government ministers via a letter to the Financial Times calling for post Brexit co-operation with the EU on medicines regulation.

Sat 1st Jul 2017

From 1 July 2017, the European Patent Office (EPO) will be applying an amended version of Rules 27 and 28 EPC. Most notably Rule 28 EPC has been amended to indicate explicitly that patents will not be granted in respect of plants or animals exclusively obtained by means of an essentially biological process.

Wed 28th Jun 2017

This week, the Unified Patent Court took one step forward in the UK with the publication of remaining draft legislation, but came to a standstill in Germany, where a law suit has brought proceedings to a pause.

Tue 13th Jun 2017

The long-awaited entry into operation of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) will not meet its target date of December 2017, as previously expected. Instead, the preparatory committee forecasts that the Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court will be delayed until sometime in 2018, at the earliest.

Mon 5th Jun 2017

Since the UK Company Names Tribunal was set up in 2008, it has decided nearly 700 cases of disputes about opportunistic names registered at UK Companies House.

Mon 27th Mar 2017

IP Inclusive, a diversity movement which helps make intellectual property professions more inclusive, has been awarded with the Corporate Social Responsibility Award at the Managing IP Awards.

Wed 1st Mar 2017

If you have created original computer software, literary, musical or artistic works, copyright gives you automatic protection, allowing you to control how your work is exploited.

Fri 10th Feb 2017

For British designers, China is an important manufacturing location for British-designed products as the fast-growing economy creates increasing demand. However, those looking to take advantage of this demand should first ensure that they have considered the intellectual property risks that China presents.

Mon 16th Jan 2017

If you, or your brand agency, have spent days, or even weeks, drafting the perfect slogan for your business or product, then you may wonder if it’s possible to protect this element of your branding.

Fri 13th Jan 2017

When launching or promoting any brand it can be a challenge to get noticed in the market place, and some companies choose to take a controversial approach via the use of shock advertising - an approach which ‘deliberately, rather than inadvertently, startles and offends its audience by violating norms for social values and personal ideals’. Other companies might find themselves offending groups of people inadvertently due to differing cultural norms and differences arising from use of language and translation.

Thu 12th Jan 2017

Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, Jo Johnson, has been announced as the new intellectual property minister for the UK. Johnson takes over from Baroness Neville-Rolfe who was appointed as Commercial Secretary to the Treasury before Christmas.

Wed 11th Jan 2017

As your business grows and you expand into new markets, then there will be strategic decisions to take about how best to manage your international portfolio of trade marks. One key consideration is whether to take advantage of a seniority claim.

Mon 9th Jan 2017

If you sell products, or services internationally, then you will need to consider where and when to register trade marks to protect the intellectual property in your branding. Planning your approach is an important part of your IP strategy.

Mon 5th Dec 2016

The results of a recent EU-wide study have been published by the European Patent Office and the EU Intellectual Property Office. The study analysed the impact of intellectual property rights (IPRs) on the European economy in terms of gross domestic product, employment, wages and trade.

Thu 1st Dec 2016

For British research institutions and businesses looking to benefit from the UK-China technology transfer, there are a number of best practice methods for intellectual property that should be considered.

Wed 30th Nov 2016

In recognition of the high standards of education, regulation and professional development, the Privy Council has awarded a royal charter to the professional association that governs UK trade mark attorneys.

Tue 29th Nov 2016

The UK government has finally ended months of speculation about what, if any, part the UK will play in the establishment of the Unified Patent Court following the country’s decision earlier this year to leave the EU.

Thu 10th Nov 2016

It is good housekeeping to ensure that any Intellectual Property Office records are kept up to date to reflect the correct owner details for your trade marks.

Wed 9th Nov 2016

Please be wary of unsolicited correspondence after you have filed a UK trade mark application as it may be a scam and sent by a fraudster.

Tue 8th Nov 2016

The EU trade mark system is a money-saving, advantageous system for those interested in operating in EU states who want a system that is quick and easy to use. Brand owners can protect their trade marks in all member states of the EU by way of a single application.

Fri 4th Nov 2016

The Madrid international application system for trade marks offers a money-saving, convenient and simple scheme for brand owners who want to protect their trademarks in numerous countries.

Wed 2nd Nov 2016

Each week we are notified by a client to say that they have been contacted by an official-looking Chinese domain name company with a notification that a third party is trying to register their brands as Chinese domain names and asking if this is authorised.

Wed 26th Oct 2016

As trade mark registrations are in the public domain, scammers are able to obtain your details from the publicly accessible official trade mark registers.

Wed 19th Oct 2016

To ensure that you do not pay unnecessary costs, businesses interested in trade marks should be on their guard against fraudsters and scams relating to trade marks.

Mon 17th Oct 2016

Protecting the uniqueness of your brand is important if you wish to preserve its value and reduce the risk of market erosion from competitors. It is therefore advisable to look out for any other trade mark applications, company names and domain names that are similar to yours and might cause concern.

Fri 30th Sep 2016

The fees for registering a design and renewals have been reduced. The UK Intellectual Property Office will allow applicants to register with online forms for a reduced fee of £50 and renew registered designs for a significant reduction.

Mon 26th Sep 2016

The Company Names Tribunal provides a service for determining disputes about whether names registered at UK Companies House should be changed, due to the earlier rights of others.

Fri 23rd Sep 2016

There is now a legal path to ensuring the UK’s continued participation in the Unified Patent Court and the Unitary Patent following our exit from the European Union according to the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys and counsel opinion.

Wed 21st Sep 2016

Having spent many months building up the reputation of your business, it is extremely frustrating to see another business attempt to ride on your coat tails and profit from your goodwill, through opportunistic activities.

Mon 19th Sep 2016

The UK intellectual property minister has returned from a trip to China to reinforce the strength of a collaboration between the UK and China on intellectual property, and to highlight the importance of this collaboration in supporting creativity and innovation in both countries.

Fri 16th Sep 2016

In a recent blog, Benoît Battistelli, president of the European Patent Office, shared his predictions for the future of the unitary patent package following the UK’s decision to leave the European Union.

Wed 14th Sep 2016

The European Patent Office are extending their efficiency scheme, ‘Early Certainty from Search’ to examination and opposition of patents. The improved scheme aims to prioritise the conclusion of grants and reduce the duration of the opposition procedure.

Wed 31st Aug 2016

In a new position paper entitled The impact of Brexit on intellectual property, the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) has explained its position on the Unitary Patent and the Unified Patent Court as well as for a range of intellectual property issues that are likely to be affected by Brexit.

Tue 30th Aug 2016

Following recent media reports stating that English would cease to be an official language of the European Union in the event of a UK withdrawal, a statement has been released on behalf of the European Union Commission’s representation in Ireland.

Mon 1st Aug 2016

Attorneys from Page White and Farrer once again took part in the Standard Chartered Great City Race on 14 July 2016. Our team ran the annual 5km race on the streets of London to raise funds for Seeing is Believing, Standard Chartered Bank’s global investment project to tackle avoidable blindness.

Wed 1st Jun 2016

Following the decision for the UK to leave the EU, James Cornish, of European IP specialists Page White and Farrer, provides some reassurances to brand owners and their advisers on the position regarding existing and future intellectual property rights in Europe.

Tue 1st Mar 2016

Changes are being made to the European Union trade mark registration system. In this article, James Cornish, trademarks specialist at Page White and Farrer, highlights some of the key changes. Most changes take effect on 23 March 2016.

Sat 23rd Jan 2016

As the country and the UK government get to grips with the implications of the UK’s vote to leave the European Union, what are the implications for intellectual property?