News & Events about IP just for you

Arguably, one of the most horrifying times for an IP owner is when protection dies (or expires)...

In 2017 the U.K. Supreme Court issued its landmark ruling in Actavis v Eli Lilly [2017], that fundamentally changed how U.K. patent infringement is assessed, by the (re-) introduction of a ‘doctrine of equivalents’, in which a feature that falls outside of a ‘normal’ interpretation of the claims but that nonetheless varies from the invention in a way that is ‘immaterial’,  infringes a U.K. patent. This can provide a U.K. patent with a broader scope of protection than was the case prior to the Actavis decision.

Here we look at how the Actavis decision has been applied and developed in subsequent decisions by the U.K. courts.

Danielle Cooksley has been appointed Director of Trade Marks and Liam Peters has been received a promotion to Partner. 

From April this year, reforms to the R&D tax-credit schemes become effective. For some, the changes will be welcomed but others will find they lose out on tax-savings in an economy with ever increasing costs. At Wynne-Jones IP, we’re delighted to offer entrepreneurs, start-ups and SME’S a bit of extra help where it’s needed most. We offer a unique service, the Pioneer’s Platform, that helps businesses secure their first patent application at an affordable cost.

Intellectual Property is a key aspect to consider for SMEs looking to develop and, if used correctly, can be a tool to grow and protect a business. However, the types and scope of protection of different forms of IP are frequently confused and misunderstood. This lack of understanding, along with the frequently prohibitive costs of certain forms of IP, is often the cause of businesses neglecting actual and potential IP rights that could be hugely beneficial. Nevertheless, there are a number of options for UK SMEs to help them develop and utilise their IP.

As of 1^st March 2023, the latest version of the EPO Guidelines for Examination have entered into force. In addition to a number of minor changes, such as the provisions for drawings and debiting procedures, the Guidelines have been amended to take into account some significant changes in European patent practice over the last year.