Posts in Europe
Death at a Funeral – or Birth? Why the German Court’s Decision on the UPC May Not be the End
n Friday, March 20, the German Constitutional Court (“Bundesverfassungsgericht”, “BverfG”) declared Germany’s approval legislation of the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (UPC) unconstitutional. Those who have …
German Decision Puts Unified Patent Court Agreement in Jeopardy
Judges in Germany have dealt what may be a fatal blow to the project to create a Unified Patent Court (UPC) in Europe. In a decision published …
UPDATED: Global IP Offices Respond to COVID-19
We live in interesting times. No corner of professional or personal life seems untouched in at least some way by the latest coronavirus (named SARS-CoV-2) and the …
Judge Paul Michel to Patent Masters Attendees: It’s Time to Wake Up to Preserve Our Patent System
Retired Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Paul Michel told registrants of IPWatchdog’s Virtual Patent Masters program taking place …
EPO Applications Up 4%, Led by Digital Communication and Computer Technology, 5.5% Rise in U.S. Applicants
Patent applications filed at the European Patent Office (EPO) rose 4% to 181,406 in 2019, driven by substantial increases from Chinese, Korean and U.S. applicants, according to a report …
European Union and Russian Approaches to Registering Cannabis Trademarks
Recent case law demonstrates that judicial bodies in the European Union and Russia have taken the stance that cannabis signs and slogans are not acceptable as trademarks …
UK Rules Out Participation in Unified Patent Court, Defines Priorities for FTAs
The UK Government has confirmed that the country will not be part of the planned Unified Patent Court (UPC). The decision was revealed in a statement sent …
WIPO Publishes Submissions on AI and IP Policy
Twenty-two member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), more than 100 organizations, and over 100 individuals have submitted comments and suggestions in response to WIPO’s Draft …
European Commission Proposes Strategies for Data and AI
The European Commission is seeking feedback on its new strategy for data and has also launched a public consultation on a White Paper on Artificial Intelligence. Both …
WIPO and U.S. Copyright Office Team Up to Talk Copyright in the Age of AI
Earlier this month, the U.S. Copyright Office and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) held a joint event titled, “Copyright in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” (…
Brexit is Finally Happening: Here’s What to Expect for IP
The Withdrawal Agreement Act 2020 received Royal Assent on January 23 and was approved by the European Parliament on January 29. That means that the UK will leave the European …
EU Trademark Owners Relieved by CJEU Judgment in SkyKick Case
The Court of Justice of the European Union has provided reassurance to European trademark owners in its judgment today in the SkyKick case. (Case C?371/18 Sky plc, …
EPO Provides Reasoning for Rejecting Patent Applications Citing AI as Inventor
Earlier this month, the European Patent Office (EPO) and the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) each rejected two patent applications that designated an artificial intelligence named DABUS …
Eight Tips to Get Your Patent Approved at the EPO
Patent prosecution can sometimes seem to be a rather byzantine process. As with anything, the more you understand, the better prepared you will be for the strategic …
Privacy Policies and the Value of Data in Bankruptcy Sales
The last few years have seen unprecedented changes in the legal landscape concerning data protection and privacy. The European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) became enforceable …
