Niles Beadman - Nov 28, 2023
Invention Capture: 5 Steps to Success - Transforming Technology to Patent Protection
Invention capturing, also referred to as invention harvesting or invention mining, is the start of every idea’s journey towards patent protection.
Emotional Perception AI v UKIPO: Is this the dawning of a new era for AI-related inventions at the UKIPO?
On 21 November 2023, Mann J handed down his judgment on Emotional..
Tidal energy
Most people are aware that the moon (and to a lesser extent the sun),..
Meet The Team: Tamara Rubery, Senior HR Manager
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to senior HR manager,..
Mewburn Ellis announce carbon offsetting for 22 – 23 financial year
As a business, we have made several commitments about our..
Latest Medtech developments in the race to help diabetes sufferers
November is National Diabetes Awareness month and, in this blog, we..
Bristol office selects Springboard Opportunity Group as their chosen charity to support
This year, our Bristol office voted for Springboard Opportunity Group..
The first CRISPR treatment – Casgevy wins UK approval for sickle cell disease
In a world first, the UK medicines regulator has given the green..
Biosensor bacteria for tumor detection
Genetically engineered biosensor bacteria could allow us to detect..
IP Protection for software-based products- An Introduction for SMEs
We are excited to launch our new software resource booklet — 'IP..
EU General Court provides guidance on consumer perception in the pharmaceutical industry
Earlier this year, in March 2023, the European Union’s General Court..
Salinity gradient power
In this series on capturing energy from the ocean we’ve recently..
Most opposed patents of 2022
As with CRISPR, patents directed to Nobel Prize-winning technologies..
Meet the Team: Rachel Collier, IP Support, Paralegal
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to paralegal Rachel..
Validating European patents outside Europe - the Validation State system
We are pleased to launch our latest report Validating European..
Is Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion a sustainable way forward?
We’ve previously discussed how energy can be captured directly from..
Total artificial hearts: creating the perfect pump
Cardiovascular disease is estimated to account for 45% of deaths in..
Swapping in stem cells for diabetes treatment
With just under 50% of type 1 diabetes patients using wearable blood..
Check out the Mewburn Forest!
We committed to plant a tree for every new matter we’ve opened since..
In person event - Circular Economy: Ideas to Business, Oxford, 7 December 2023
Mewburn Ellis is delighted to be partnering with Oxfordshire..
Andy King appointed as Head of Trade Marks and joins the firm’s Management Board
We're pleased to announce that Partner Andy King will be the new Head..
Meet the Team: Lesley Gardner, Business Services, Head of IP Support Services
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Head of IP Support..
WIPR Diversity 2023
We are delighted to have three of our wonderful women recognised in ..
Lucy Coe appointed Women in IP Committee Lead for IP Inclusive
Congratulations to Lucy Coe on her appointment as IP Inclusive: Women..
Major developments in the UK offshore wind farm industry
October has been a busy and exciting month for offshore wind news in..
Chambers & Partners 2024 legal guide - Band 1
The EPO’s Enlarged Board of Appeal decides how the EPO should assess entitlement to priority
The Enlarged Board of Appeal of the EPO has now issued its..
Meet the Team: Lucy Coe, Senior Associate, Patent Attorney
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talked to Lucy Coe about..
Recycling the Rainbow - coloured plastics in the circular economy
Single-use plastic has become indispensable in everyday life,..
Supporting Guts UK and their research into the gut microbiome
We’re pleased to announce that we have started a new charity..
Chartered Trade Mark Attorneys – your key business ally
In the past few years there has been an upsurge in the number of..
Mewburn Ellis: top tier firm Legal 500 2024
We are extremely proud to once again be ranked tier one for our..
UPC at four months old - a review
The UPC is now four months old and the Court of First Instance is..
Congratulations to our Rising Stars 2023
Congratulations to Eleanor Maciver, Anna Mudge and Ben Tolley for..
Covid autumn booster vaccine 2023: the switch to mono-valent vaccines
Autumn 2023 sees another round of COVID-19 booster jabs across the UK..
Taking (personal) care of the future
The market size of beauty and personal care is huge, valued at a..
Beware the front-loaded procedure!
The Unified Patent Court (‘UPC’) opened its doors on 1 June 2023. It..
Meet The Team: Sydney Phillips, IP Support Services, Paralegal
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to patent paralegal,..
UK regulators decide preferred approach to precision bred crops
Yesterday (Wednesday 20 September 2023), the Food Standards Agency..
How does declaring a patent or application as “essential to a standard” affect the pre-grant experience of an application? – Part 2
This article is the latest in a series of blogs exploring whether..
Not just window dressing: the technologies making textiles greener
Not only are textiles the biggest source of microplastics globally,..
Mewburn Ellis praised for achievements in sustainability
EcoVadis ratings highlight environmental policies and sustainable..
Meet The Team: Sean Jauss, Partner, Solicitor, Litigator, Head of Legal Services
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to head of legal and..
Trends in Graphene IP – a refresh
Last year, we delved into the data to see how the number of patent..
A badge of green credentials
With consumers increasingly choosing brands that are more..
Meet The Team: Kirsty Morris, IP Support Services, Patent Administrator
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to patent..
Graphene: permeating the hydrogen economy
The growth of the so-called “hydrogen economy” is crucial to..
IP audits for battery and energy storage businesses
Companies working in the fields of batteries and energy storage often..
A leap forward in slowing down Alzheimer’s
This summer has seen a major leap forward in slowing the rate of..
Meet The Team: Joseph Newcombe, Associate and Patent Attorney, Sustainable Pharma Commentator
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Joseph Newcombe..
Mewburn Ellis donate £219,000 to charity partnerships for 2023/2024 — over £790,000 donated since 2020
To mark the International Day of Charity (September 5th), we are..
Building an international Customs strategy for your pharma brand
Counterfeit pharmaceuticals are a global problem and pose a..
Gene therapy – the status quo and future trends
The uptick in recent approvals in the gene therapy space is..
Understanding parallel import of pharmaceuticals in the EU – a quick guide to repackaging and relabelling of parallel imports for brand owners
Parallel importing, the practice where third parties import branded..
Cambridge office selects Cambridge City Foodbank as their chosen charity to support
Our Cambridge office has chosen Cambridge City Foodbank as one of our..
Updates on the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) fee structure, effective 1 August 2023
If you have patents or trade marks in Korea or are considering filing..
Meet The Team: Maria Hall, Business Services, Chief M&BD Officer, Community Champion
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to chief marketing and..
A visit to The Booth Centre — Manchester office to support charity over next two years
The Booth Centre is a charity that our Manchester Office have chosen..
Strategic Pharmaceutical Branding: when should you apply to register a trade mark if still undergoing clinical trials?
Tying trade mark considerations into your drug development strategy..
Mewburn Ellis Net-Zero Targets Validated by Science Based Target initiative
As part of our ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability, we..
Is the future in the wind? Pyxis Ocean sets sail!
This week we have seen the bulk carrier Pyxis Ocean set sail..
Silicon anodes: where are we now?
In 2020, we wrote about some of the approaches being taken to develop..
Mewburn Ellis support Jonathan's Voice for third year, donating £50,000 so far
“The focus of our I&D strategy is building inclusion, we are aiming..
Quick guide to determining whether a software invention is patent eligible.
In general, the main obstacle to obtaining patent protection for a..
Meet The Team: Kimberley Harding, IP Support, Paralegal
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to paralegal, Kim..
Our LGBTQ+ Group selects All About Trans as one of their chosen charities to support.
This year, our LGBTQ+ group has chosen All About Trans as one of..
London office selects The National Brain Appeal as their chosen charity to support.
This year, our team in London have voted for The National Brain..
UPC as a forum for SEP disputes – Panasonic kick off proceedings
With the UPC opening its doors just over two months’ ago, the IP..
In vivo expression of chimeric antigen receptors: using gene therapy to improve cell therapy
In vivo CAR therapies build on the success of standard CAR treatments..
Mewburn Ellis team up with Support Dogs to sponsor an Assistance Dog
This week (7 – 13 August 2023) is International Assistance Dog Week..
The next-generation therapies for autoimmune diseases
The immune system has an extraordinary capacity to distinguish “self”..
Nuclear fusion breakthrough raises hope for limitless clean energy
A research team at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in..
Superconductor sparks excitement, but meets resistance
The last few weeks have seen the rise of an unlikely social media..
Cells as medicines: the promise of cell therapy
Cell therapy is one of the most exciting areas of medical science,..
How does declaring a patent or application as “essential to a standard” affect the pre-grant experience of an application?
This article is the latest in a series of blogs exploring whether..
Mewburn Ellis support CREST Awards for the third year donating £128,000 so far
We now enter our third year of supporting the British Science..
Court of Appeal confirms filing a trade mark cancellation action does not ‘stop the clock’ on acquiescence
In our “Pharma trade marks: 2022 case law round up” (written towards..
Meet The Team: Clare James, Business Services, Executive Assistant
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Clare James, EA to..
US Supreme Court Upholds Tightening of Patent Enablement Standard
In an eagerly awaited judgement, the US Supreme Court has affirmed..
Green Aviation – Ready for Take off!
In 2022 aviation accounted for ca. 2% of global energy-related CO2..
National Paralegal Awards Finalists 2023
We are extremely proud to announce our finalists in the National..
IP priorities for forward-looking cell and gene therapy businesses
IP priorities are especially important to businesses developing..
Developing our online services to meet your needs
Our clients choose to work with us because we offer fresh insights..
How to mobilize your IP rights in the fight against counterfeit goods: Customs Application for Action
‘Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’ is a motto that does..
Mewburn Ellis is proud to work on 18 of the 50 top-selling pharmaceuticals of 2022
Last year we reported the unprecedented growth of the innovative..
Meet The Team: Ellie Gooding, IP Support, Paralegal
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to paralegal, Ellie..
Does Green IP mean go? Exploring acceleration under the UKIPO’s “Green Channel”
We are pleased to launch our latest report Does Green IP mean go?..
Developing battery technology? Think inside the Box!
The Patent Box is a tax break scheme that is designed to encourage..
Evolution of engineered minimal cells - high mutation rates and regained fitness
Engineered bacterial cells with minimal genomes were developed in 2016
Mewburn Ellis lace up for Endure24 in support of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices
Mewburn Ellis showed steely determination to complete a 24-hour..
£20,000 support for FoodCycle to help address the cost of living crisis.
This year we have chosen to support FoodCycle as one of our firmwide..
Beating the Punch: UPC Protective Letters
The Unified Patent Court (UPC) is now operational. As of June 1,..
Litigation in the Unified Patent Court (UPC)
The UPC is a new European patent litigation court. It will provide a..
Big Data in Maritime transport
Big data has been a big thing for most of the last decade, yet its..
Mewburn Ellis ranked ‘gold tier’ in IAM PATENT 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners 2023
We are delighted to once again be ranked ‘gold tier’ inIAM PATENT..
Protecting yourself against IP scammers
Scamming practices, such as misleading invoices and spoofed phone..
Meet The Team: Davina Lockyer, Business Services, System Accountant
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to system accountant,..
Proud to support the Better Kitchen Sink Project
As part of our Forward Community Programme we're proud to have..
UPC Administrative Committee approves Milan as host of the third Central Division court
The UPC Administrative Committee has announced that Milan will host..
In person event - Circular Economy: Ideas to Business, Cambridge, 13 September
Mewburn Ellis is delighted to be partnering with Cambridge Cleantech
Cell-cultivated chicken approved for sale in US
On Wednesday 21 June 2023, the United States Department of..
One giant leap for plant-kind: engineering plants for Mars
If humans are going to live on Mars one day, we need to work out how..
Meet The Team: Debbie Williams, IP Support, Paralegal
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to paralegal Debbie..
Making plastic disappear
It comes as no surprise, that single-use plastic remains one of the..
IPEC Small Claims moving to Manchester
The Presiding Judge of the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court..
Meet The Team: Cat Bate, Business Services, Learning & Development Manager
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to learning and..
Katy Perry v Katie Perry: Use of famous personalities’ names in commerce
Brand owners who build brands under their own name unsurprisingly..
World Ocean Day 2023 – Turning the Tide on Ocean Pollution
8 June 2023 marks the 21st World Ocean Day, which, in the words of..
More recognition in MIP IP Stars 2023
It is fantastic to once again be recognised in MIP IP Stars 2023. So..
EUIPO vs “EMMENTALER”
Trade mark courts worldwide spend a good deal of time deciding what..
Meet The Team: Rebecca Anderson-Smith, Partner, Chartered Trade Mark Attorney
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to partner, Rebecca..
Meet The Team: Andy King, Head of Trade Marks, Chartered Trade Mark Attorney
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to partner and Head of..
Podcast with Robert Andrews: how to drive I&D progress and engage key stakeholders
Robert Andrews joins Natasha Rainey on her All Inclusive Podcast to..
CREST Awards case study: an interview with Toby Hill
Mewburn is anational partnerfor the CREST Awards programme run by..
Green Tech: Making IP Part of Your Toolkit - Webinar
On Wednesday 21 June, we are delighted to be hosting in partnership..
Percy Pig ice cream renamed after M&S request
A small family-run ice cream parlour based in Hertfordshire has..
Offshore wind's contribution to the world's energy demand
In 2019 the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimated that the..
Meet The Team: Kate O'Rourke, Partner, Chartered Trade Mark Attorney
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Chartered Trade..
Patenting antibodies – the latest developments from the EPO Boards of Appeal: Part 2 – inventive step
We have conducted a review of Board of Appeal decisions relating to..
Mewburn Ellis shortlisted for two awards at the Managing IP EMEA Awards 2023
We are delighted to have been nominated in two categories by Managing..
Gene sequencing accelerates with custom hardware
The cost to sequence a genome continues to drop exponentially. Over..
The ball is rolling at the FDA for microbiome therapies
The FDA was busy last week! Off the back of the first approval for..
Meet The Team: Jacqueline Pang, Partner, Chartered Trade Mark Attorney
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talked to Jacqueline Pang..
The History of Hydrofoils
Since their introduction into the America’s Cup boats in 2013,..
Meet The Team: Jan Rether, Partner, Attorney at Law
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talked to Jan Rether,..
Fail to Prepare; Prepare to Fail: a discussion about representation issues at the UK IPO
The UK IPO has recently introduced an important change to the rules..
Joe Newcombe in PharmaTimes — new order
In his regular PharmaTimes feature, sustainability columnist Joe..
MIP IP STARS: Top 250 Women in IP 2023
Congratulations to Kate O'Rourke who has been recognised in Managing..
EPO to Abolish “10-Day Rule” from 01 November 2023
Key Points:
- the “10-day rule” will be abolished and will not be..
The lithium rush: an unsustainable approach to sustainability?
In recent years, the world has seen the significant consequences of..
High Court finds Tesco Clubcard Prices logo infringes Lidl’s trade mark
The High Court of England and Wales yesterday (19 April 2023) held..
Operating in the circular economy: From idea to Business – our co-hosted event with Oxfordshire Greentech
On Wednesday 22 March, we were delighted to co-host an in-person..
Offshore winds blow against Siemens
Late last year Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S was unsuccessful..
“Wood”n’t it be nice? - Turning over a new leaf in wood-based packaging
For years, we have been aware of the need to reduce our reliance on..
Patents at sea
Patents are a territorial right. A UK patent provides you with a..
Does declaring your patent or application as “essential to a standard” influence the outcome of that patent or application in Europe?
This blog is the first in a series in which we explore standards..
Blowing bubbles to cut drag and clean up shipping
If someone told you their latest invention was a bubble blowing..
When dragons come to court: why a children book’s author lost a case of copyright infringement against John Lewis
“The dragon is a creature of myth, dating back to ancient times and..
UK accession to the CPTPP - grace period exemption big boost for IP
The UK government announced 5 years ago its intention to join the..
Can parallel importers apply registered trade marks to previously unbranded products?
Towards the back end of last year, the Court of Justice of the..
Spot the difference: where UK and German laws go astray
Despite the harmonisation of trade mark law in Europe over the past..
Advanced Therapies Congress 2023 - five key themes
Anna Mudge enjoyed a bustling two days at the Advanced Therapies..
Motion of the ocean - Wave energy converters
The ocean covers 70% of the earth’s surface, so it is no wonder there..
Femtech: a growth industry - new special report
We are delighted to release our latest report Femtech: a growth..
Wearing down tyre emissions
The amount of particulate material which comes out of an exhaust pipe..
Mewburn Ellis celebrates International Women's Day 2023
8 March 2023 was International Women's Day (IWD) which looks to..
Come and join us for a ‘Celebration of all things Singapore’
We are excited to be in Singapore for INTA 2023 and very much hope..
Conservation innovation – working towards a world for both humans and wildlife
With a rapidly growing human global population, predicted to reach 10..
Julie Carlisle and Robert Watson in PharmaTimes — everything I own?
Featured in PharmaTimes, Julie Carlisle and Robert Watson dig deep..
Unified Patent Court (UPC) FAQS – how do we make sure an opt-out request is valid?
The delay of the opening of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) gives us..
Joe Newcombe in PharmaTimes — circle of life
In his regular PharmaTimes feature, sustainability columnist Joe..
Microbiome claims around the world: how to define your microbe?
A booming commercial interest in harnessing the human microbiome for..
Faraday Battery Challenge: Funding the Future
Michael Faraday uncovered the link between electricity and magnetism,..
Trafficking T cells – how to get cells to their target destination
After being in the shadow of its famous relative, the..
WTR 1000 - The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals 2023
We are delighted be ranked silver for prosecution and strategy in WTR..
EPO announces fee increases from 1 April 2023
In recent times, the European Patent Office (EPO) has increased its..
Germany completes ratification of UPC agreement, confirming the 1 June 2023 launch date
Months of delay and uncertainty are finally behind us. Germany..
Unified Patent Court (UPC) FAQS – who is entitled to file an opt-out request?
The delay of the opening of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) gives us..
Plastics and climate change - a solution and a problem
Plastics have the potential to play a crucial role in emission-saving..
Women and Girls in Science Day: Mewburn Ellis celebrates women in STEM fields
Saturday 11 February 2023 marks the 8th International Women and Girls..
AI and Tech innovation stands out in a slow year for pharma deals
Last year saw a drop in the number and value of deals performed in..
Meet the team: Callum McGuinn, Partner and Patent Attorney in the Chemistry team, London
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Callum McGuinn..
Mewburn Ellis CREST Awards partnership report
We are delighted to share our CREST Awards partnership project..
Curing pharmaceutical trade mark deficiencies: EU guidance on “food supplements” and “pharmaceutical products” in Hasco TM v EUIPO
Making genuine use of trade marks after registration is of..
Meet the team: Julie Carlisle, Partner, Patent Attorney and Litigator in the Chemistry team, London
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Julie Carlisle..
Veganuary: what a month it has been!
Veganuary is done for another year. What a month it has been!
We’ve..
Veganuary: what we eat - 5 tips for sustainability
As Veganuary comes to a close, we are preparing to return to our..
Meet the team: Emma Graham, Partner and Patent Attorney in the Engineering team, London
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Emma Graham about..
Should I file third party observations?
A study of the consequences of filing third party observations (TPOs)..
Patenting antibodies – the latest developments from the EPO Boards of Appeal
The prosecution of patent applications relating to antibodies..
Meet the team: Camille Terfve, Partner and Patent Attorney in the Life Sciences team, Cambridge
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Camille Terfve..
Getting to grips with device led physical rehabilitation innovation
In the UK, there are an estimated 187,000 children living with an arm..
Battery insights & IP trends - new special report
We are pleased to announce the launch of our latest special report..
Can AI and IOT support environmental sustainability
Advances in software-based technologies such as Artificial..
Meet the team: Eleanor Maciver, Partner and Patent Attorney in the Chemistry team, Cambridge
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Eleanor Maciver..
Veganuary: food for thought - ethical considerations when navigating the future food technology landscape
Our focus this Veganuary has been on the technology leading the way..
CAR Treg cell therapy - to autoimmunity and beyond
A new wave of cell therapy is hitting the clinics for treating..
Meet the team: Christopher Casley, Partner and Patent Attorney in the Life Sciences team, Bristol
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Christopher Casley..
Quantum sensors in space: measuring a warming world with cold atoms
Space-borne sensors serve a variety of purposes that are all but..
Synthetic Biology - creating innovative solutions to tackle climate change
Over the past few decades, awareness of the impact that humans are..
Veganuary: vegan branding – more than meats the eye
The Veganuary challenge is in full swing, at Mewburn Ellis, and..
Opting out from the UPC – when to opt-out a pending European patent application
From 1 March 2023, when the Unified Patent Court (UPC) sunrise period..
Veganuary: horizons in next-generation plant-based meat analogues
Here at Mewburn Ellis, we have been thinking about the future of food..
Battery innovation - an enabling technology for the reduction of greenhouse emissions
From both sides of the research community, companies and academics..
Veganuary: Culturing an appetite; advances in 3D bioprinting
Throughout Veganuary, we are looking at the technologies that are..
Operating in the circular economy: From idea to Business – in person event, Oxford UK, 22 March 2023
We are delighted to be partnering with Oxfordshire Greentechto..
Form TM7 & TM7A — discrepancies between threatened and actual opponents at the UKIPO
Publication of a UK trade mark application, following examination and..
Mewburn's The Christie Challenge raises over £30,000!
Over the course of September 2021 to September 2022, Mewburn Ellis..
Mewburn Ellis is proud to be participating in Veganuary
At Mewburn Ellis, we have been thinking about the future of food for..
A world-first approval for off-the-shelf cell therapy
We are delighted to learn that this week the European Commission..
mRNA cancer vaccine shows efficacy in clinical trial
Moderna and Merck announced in a mid-December 2022 press release that..
Joe Newcombe in PharmaTimes — Reality checked
In his regular PharmaTimes feature, sustainability columnist Joe..
Repurpose our rigs! Platforms for climate tech
2022 saw the end of one of the UK’s largest, and possibly most..
Pharma trade marks: 2022 case law round up
As we enter December, and the year draws to a close, many trade mark..
Parallel imports of repackaged pharmaceutical products - clarification from recent CJEU rulings
Recent case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)..
Welcome to the market, FMT
On Wednesday 30 November 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration..
What is Synthetic Biology and why should you care?
The term Synthetic Biology, or SynBio, has been used for a while; the..
Antibody therapy for pets – following the human lead
Over recent decades monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy has developed..
David Deutsch – making more sense than common sense
“Our best theories are not only truer than common sense, they make..
Patent Litigation Trends in England & Wales - new report
We are delighted to release our latest report Patent Litigation..
Joe Newcombe in PharmaTimes — We are the robots
In his regular PharmaTimes feature, sustainability columnist Joe..
Graphene: the commercial disrupter
Graphene has generated a tremendous amount of excitement since it was..
Opposition and examination oral proceedings by videoconference (ViCo) now as standard
In response to the significant travel restrictions that were in place..
Pharma Trade Marks: Exhaustion and Parallel Trade in the UK - Special Report 2022
We are excited to announce the release of our latest special report ..
Plausibility and Inventive Step at the EPO - Watch G2/21 live on Thursday 24 November
On Thursday 24 November 2022, the Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBA) will..
Coming soon to a plate near you? US Food and Drug Administration issue first step towards approval for cell-based meat
For over a decade, the promise of cultivated meat, grown using..
European validation strategies for pharmaceutical patents – an update
In January 2021, we published our Special Report on EP validation..
Positive feedback on oral proceedings in oppositions carried out by videoconference
In September, the EPO commissioned a survey about their opposition..
Enablement Requirements for Antibody Claims to be Reviewed by US Supreme Court
In a development which will be of interest to biotech companies,..
Gender bias in patent prosecution
Fran Salisbury spoke to The Patent Lawyer Magazine about gender bias..
Eight days – the longest ever opposition hearing at the EPO?
The EPO Opposition Division just issued its decision on European..
Ocean-based carbon dioxide removal is making a splash
COP27 commences on 6th November 2022 and one of the key items on the..
Vets: who’s taking care of the animal caregivers?
Our pets are members of the family, and we would do everything we can..
Meet the team: Paul Dunne, Partner and Patent Attorney in the Chemistry team, Bristol
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Paul Dunne about..
EPO introduces top-up searches for earlier national rights
On 1 September 2022, the EPO introduced an extra “quality check”..
Top Tier in Chambers & Partners 2023 legal guide
Graphene: patenting a wonder material
Our Special Report Graphene: patenting a wonder material examines..
On track for net-zero railway: Hitachi’s Blues Train
In 1825 George Stephenson’s Locomotion took 450 people 25 miles from..
Mewburn Ellis Partner with the General Counsel for Diversity & Inclusion
We're Proud to Partner with the General Counsel for Diversity &..
AI at the UKIPO – a more patent friendly approach?
The UKIPO recently issued new guidance relating to examining patent..
Bioinformatics at the UK IPO – what does the new Guidance mean for applicants?
As recently publicised, the UK IPO recently issued new guidance..
Picky and potent: bioorthogonal chemistry in therapy
There exist chemical moieties that are essentially invisible to the..
Mewburn Ellis: top tier firm Legal 500 2023
We are extremely proud to be ranked tier one for our patent and trade..
Robert Watson elected President of FICPI’s Study and Work Committee
Partner Robert Watson was elected President of FICPI’s Study and Work..
Joe Newcombe in PharmaTimes — biohazard
In his regular PharmaTimes feature, sustainability columnist Joe..
WIPR Diversity Champions & Trailblazers 2022
Congratulations to Robert Andrews and Rebecca Campbell on being..
Congratulations to our Rising Stars 2022
Congratulations to Eleanor Maciver, Anna Mudge and Ben Tolley for..
A patent attorney, a dog and meaning in the job
4 October 2022 is World Animal Day and we can reflect on how the..
Post quantum cryptography – The Final Frontier
We have previously reported on the ongoing search by the National..
Obtaining patent protection for software inventions can be challenging - but we can help
New developments in software are continuing to change the world we..
UPC: Rules of Procedure finalised and in force
The Unitary Patent Court now has a revised set of Rules of Procedure...
Mewburn Ellis launch Validation Costs Estimator Tool
We are pleased to launch our new Validation Costs Estimator Tool.
..
Non-Fungible Tokens as legal property?
The world of cryptocurrency is a fast-moving and complex one...
Mewburn Ellis leads UK IP sector with a silver medal from EcoVadis
Recognition comes as firm launches its in-depth Sustainability Report..
Regulatory challenges for microbiome therapeutics in the EU and beyond – focus on FMT
One of the oldest known microbiome-based therapeutics, faecal..
Pattern trade marks: cross-stitch your way to trade mark registration success
We live in a world filled with patterns. The natural world reveals to..
The long road to safer micro-mobility
June 2022 marked the first anniversary of the introduction of..
Standards, SEPs, and FRAND agreements - an overview
The terms “standards,” “SEPs,” and “FRAND agreements,” are..
Consequences of Brexit on trademarks and designs
Just over six years ago, the United Kingdom voted to exit the..
IP as an enabler for AI: UK government shows its hand
The recently published response of the UK government to a..
The FemTech revolution: providing much-needed menopause care
High quality menopause care has the potential to significantly..
We perform significantly better than the EPO average at oppositions
We really are experts when it comes to opposing patents and our..
Alternative proteins: you can’t magic anything out of thin air – or can you?
It’s hard to miss the scale of investor and consumer appetite for..
Joe Newcombe in PharmaTimes — chemical reaction
In his regular PharmaTimes feature, sustainability columnist Joe..
Bugs helping drugs beat cancer – harnessing the microbiome for immunotherapy
In recent years the field of cancer immunotherapy has exploded in..
Most opposed patents of 2021
When we reviewed our list of the most opposed European patents of..
Mewburn Ellis is proud to work on 19 of the 50 top-selling pharmaceuticals of 2021
2021 was a year of unprecedented success for the biotech and..
Electrolytes: the challenge for new-age batteries
Most people have heard some version of a horror story about a laptop..
Unitary Patent Package - an overview
In this Forward: On Demand vlog, Eliot Ward gives us an overview of..
MRI-Guided Therapy
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners use strong magnetic fields..
Bacteria: a surface level understanding
Surfaces pose a unique challenge in the on-going war against..
Mewburn Ellis ranked ‘gold tier’ in IAM PATENT 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners 2022
We are delighted to once again be ranked ‘gold tier’ inIAM PATENT..
High hopes for hydrogen electrolysers: EPO report looks to the future of green hydrogen production
Hydrogen is often seen as the “fuel of the future” due to its high..
Mewburn Ellis announces firmwide menopause policy
We are delighted to have launched a firmwide menopause policy to..
EPO presses pause on proceedings that depend on the plausibility referral to the EBA
Despite not having any express legislative basis in the European..
Robotic-assisted surgery: from fiction to reality and beyond
It’s a notable feature of (my favourite) Sci-Fi movies, that they..
Mewburn Ellis win MIP UK Patent Prosecution Firm of the Year!
We are delighted to have been named UK Firm of the Year for Patent..
The Intellectual Property Enterprise Court – renovation, or a new coat of paint?
Comments on the current functioning, and the future, of the IPEC.
..
Mewburn Ellis ranked Tier 1 for Patent prosecution in MIP IP STARS 2022
We are delighted to once again be rankedTier 1 for Patent..
Mewburn Ellis advises creators of Goodwood 2022 record breaker
IP firm advises the company behind the Spéirling electric hypercar..
Owning your IP: managing early brand risks for start-ups and SMEs
A start-up or a small or medium sized enterprise (SME) is like a..
Meet the team: Simon Parry, Partner, Patent Attorney, Engineering, Manchester
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Simon Parry about..
Recipe for success - intellectual property opportunities in future food
The future of food is big business and it’s only going to get bigger..
Meet the team: Emma Graham, Partner, Patent Attorney, Engineering, London
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Emma Graham about..
Strategy: token efforts
Despite being in circulation since 2014, non‑fungible tokens (NFTs)..
Better battery regulations
From 1 July 2024, all rechargeable industrial and EV batteries will..
Life in plastic
Plastic is prevalent in all areas of society, as is the growing..
Femtech: Rich on innovation, short on funding
The UK has the largest female health gap in the G20. A “female health..
Meet the Team: Stephen Gill, Partner, Patent Attorney, Engineering, Cambridge
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Stephen Gill about..
Talking with machines: AI, language, and cognition
“A reader lives a thousand lives before they die”. From Homer to..
Vertical farming - finding space to sprout up
One thing the past couple of years have taught a lot of people is..
Replacing the bad with the good – an IP perspective on microbial consortia
Our body hosts trillions of microorganisms that are essential to many..
UK Government expands R&D Tax Relief to cover Quantum, AI and Robotics research
The recently published 2022 Spring Statement1 indicates support for a..
The search for more sustainable food sources
So much more than nutrition, food can evoke pleasure and excitement..
Recycl-ink: innovations in ink recycling
Efforts to improve recyclability are typically focused on high..
Joe Newcombe in PharmaTimes — green party
In his regular PharmaTimes feature, sustainability columnist Joe..
Plausibility strikes again – BMS blockbuster apixaban patent found invalid by UK High Court
In a recent judgment the UK High Court of Justice revoked European..
Most 16–25-year-olds in Britain unsure of their intellectual property rights over their creations
New research carried out by Mewburn Ellis in conjunction with YouGov..
A Tribute to Stephen Lawrence – his life, legacy and the long road to justice
Stephen Lawrence Day is celebrated annually on 22 April to honour the..
A crossroad of IP rights: registering artistic works as trade marks
In a dynamically growing artistic world artists are seeking to..
Horizons in vaccine production
The scramble for a coronavirus vaccine over the last two years has..
Germany’s world-leading MedTech industry
Germany is synonymous with precision engineering and quality..
The NISQ-era: a quantum stepping-stone
In our previous blog, ‘Noisy quantum computing: overcoming quantum..
Software for use in medical methods: excluded from patentability?
In this blog we look at the challenges associated with patenting..
EPO extends pilot for oral proceedings in opposition by videoconference to 31 December 2022
On 6 April 2022, the EPO issued a notice extending its pilot project..
A much-needed boost: the future of coronavirus vaccines
Just over two years after our first blog on Covid-19, it appears that..
Powering pacemakers – (don’t) be still, my beating heart
Millions of people around the world depend on implanted medical..
Joe Newcombe in PharmaTimes — breath of fresh air
In his regular PharmaTimes feature, sustainability columnist Joe..
Five patenting pitfalls in future food (and how to avoid them)
In our series on future food, we have explored the exciting..
2022 changes to EPO Guidelines: highlights
With the 2021 changes to the examination guidelines, the EPO changed..
‘I blamed myself for my differences’: neurodivergence and IP
During Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2022, former Mewburn Ellis..
From bottle to throttle: upcycling plastic waste into the tyre industry
In the UK alone 35.8 million plastic bottles are used and discarded..
Advances in dentistry making a real impression
We all love going to the dentist, especially for restorations like..
Non-traditional pharmaceutical trade marks - new special report
We are excited to announce the launch of our latest special report..
Let’s talk FemTech: the rise of female focussed innovation
A surge in new medical technology is emerging from the FemTech..
Has Russia allowed patent theft?
In response to a decree issued by the Russian Government[1] on 6..
Time to cash out? Will a fully cashless society ever become a reality in the UK?
A cashless society describes an economic state whereby financial..
Exosomes in liquid biopsy: a nanometric particle packed with potential
We are all too familiar with the statistic that 1 in 2 of us will get..
Tech giants set up shop in Munich - Europe's answer to Silicon Valley?
Arguably best known for its annual Oktoberfest celebrations,..
We need to talk about women's health - spotlight on endometriosis
The theme of International Women’s Day 2022 was “Break the Bias”,..
Six ways that 3D printing is revolutionising the biomedical industry
3D-Printing is an additive manufacturing process whereby objects are..
WTR 1000 - The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals 2022
We are delighted be ranked silver for prosecution and strategy in WTR..
IP GUIdance - graphical user interface design rights
While patents protect the technical aspects of products, registered..
COVID pandemic sparks significant increase in domain name disputes
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has recently..
Mewburn Ellis response to the Ukrainian invasion
We have watched with shock at the events that have unfolded in..
Joe Newcombe in PharmaTimes — a force of nature
In his regular PharmaTimes feature, sustainability columnist Joe..
Protecting film, music and game titles in Germany - 10 key questions answered
Time and again, clients from the media, entertainment and, in..
Maximising the value of design rights
From SMEs to multinationals, from car manufacturers to fashion..
Registering personal names as trade marks: steps to consider before naming a fashion brand after yourself
Brands which include personal names – the so-called eponymous brands..
Battery materials – sourcing a brighter battery-powered future
As demonstrated by the recent COP 26 UN Climate Change conference,..
Taking-off into a cleaner future: composites in the aviation industry
As the world gradually returns to its pre-pandemic levels of air..
Meet the client – Creo Medical
Creo Medical’s cutting-edge medical devices have several..
Sustainability - good intentions are not enough
There is growing awareness and alarm at the impact humans are having..
Composites in construction: building towards a stronger and more sustainable future
Composite materials are generally defined as materials produced from..
Two new referrals to the EPO’s Enlarged Board of Appeal on entitlement to priority
Legal context for the referrals
Entitlement to priority may seem a..
International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2022
As a forward-looking intellectual property firm working at the..
Predicting the unpredictable during pregnancy
For many expectant parents, pregnancy is a time of excitement, yet..
AI spotlight: Google’s DeepMind takes on competitive programming – have we reached a tipping point?
On 2 February, Alphabet Inc.’s artificial intelligence subsidiary,..
EPO announces fee increases from 1 April 2022
In recent times, the European Patent Office (EPO) has increased its..
Signs of quality – EU and UK geographical indication (GI) logos
A geographical indication (GI) is a form of intellectually property..
AI, IP and SMEs: jurisdictional clues about copyright solutions for start-ups
Our world is passing through an era of explosive technological..
Ten new charities to benefit from our Community Fund
We have ten new charities that we are now supporting with donations..
The Oatly trade mark and what businesses should know before choosing theirs
Veganuary, the annual challenge which encourages people to try a..
A guide to EPO opposition proceedings by videoconference
EPO oppositions by videoconference only became possible relatively..
Plastics getting greener
Industry has listened, and learned – plastics are becoming more and..
Kokumi - a new taste for future foods?
Many of us – at least in the West – grew up with the knowledge that..
As the UPC preparatory period begins, the EPO decides to accept UP requests before the full UPC agreement comes into force
On 18 January 2022, Austria became the thirteenth EU country to..
Solid-state electrolytes – a firm footing for the future?
Innovation must produce sustainable solutions in every area of..
Mewburn Ellis appoints Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer
We are delighted to announce this new role alongside launch of..
Board of Appeal confirms DABUS AI cannot be an inventor for a European patent application
On 21st December 2021 the EPO rejected the two appeals filed by Dr..
Forward: 2021 Features Special - out now!
We are delighted that the new edition of Mewburn Ellis Forward is now..
Fashion trade marks – understanding the basics
Historically, traders have placed symbols on products to indicate..
Meet the team: Stephan Hoefs, Associate, Attorney at Law
Stephan Hoefs is an associate and Attorney at Law, specialising in..
EPO Boards of Appeal to relocate back to Munich
The President of the EPO has recently announced a plan to move the..
Meet the team: Claire Evans, Associate, Chartered Trade Mark Attorney
Claire Evans is a chartered trade mark attorney and associate with..
Ferrari v Mansory Design: CJEU confirms partial designs may be protected as unregistered designs
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) recently published..
Austrian parliament unanimously passes legislation to allow the practical preparations for the UPC to begin
On 2 December 2021, Austria became the thirteenth EU country to pass..
Meet the team: Joanne Goodchild, Senior Associate, Trade Mark Attorney
Joanne Goodchild is a trade mark attorney and senior associate with..
Warning competitors off your trade mark: how to use ™ and ® symbols
Many of us, if not all, have walked past private land with a sign..
EPO extends pilot for oral proceedings in opposition by videoconference to 31 May 2022
On 23 November 2021, the EPO issued a notice extending its pilot..
Meet the team: Karolina Fryzlewicz, Trade Mark Technical Assistant
Karolina Fryzlewicz is currently training to be a trade mark attorney..
The green graphene revolution – the pursuit of sustainability
If there is one word to describe graphene, it is “potential”. Since..
The smart healthcare revolution – what does it mean for patent attorneys?
In 2020 the EPO published a report on the global trends in patent..
A cleaner, greener future for pharma
The pharma industry is centred on the mission of providing..
How to avoid a “fashion” faux pas on The Legal Runway
Hilda-Georgina, examines the rulings in Original Beauty Technology &..
Pulse of Fintech H1 ’21 – investments in fintech are growing and diversifying
KPMG have recently published their biannual report ‘Pulse of Fintech..
From academia to patents – a career path to becoming a patent attorney
Camille Terfve spoke to EMBL Careers about what it takes to become a..
Plastics from thin air – converting captured carbon dioxide
From the start of 2021 up to the date of writing this blog in..
Digital therapeutics: the rise of digital health technologies during the Covid-19 pandemic
There is no denying that the Covid-19 pandemic has reshaped many..
LG Chem vs SK Innovation: law & politics in the EV market
Sales of electric vehicles are booming. Withglobal stockup from..
Videoconference oral proceedings: Enlarged Board of Appeal issues reasons for its decision in G 1/21
The Enlarged Board has now issued its full written decision in G 1/21..
Brexit trade mark refilings - was 30 September 2021 really the final deadline?
For most EU trade mark owners, 30 September 2021 was the final day to..
New Green IP Report launched
Chambers & Partners 2022 Legal Guide - Band 1 Recommended Firm
We are delighted to have once again been ranked Band 1 in Chambers &..
A snapshot: Patent Landscape in Bioinformatics and Digital Health
In this Forward: On Demand vlog, Christopher Casley gives us an..
Capturing the DNA hydroxymethylome for early-stage cancer detection
Biomarkers are measurable indicators of health or disease and the..
Missed the 30 September 2021 deadline for refiling RCDs pending at 31 December 2020 in the UK – there may be a solution!
As widely discussed, 30 September 2021 was the deadline for refiling..
CRISPR - the future of gene editing
In this Forward: On Demand vlog, Joseph Morgan and Alex Galbraith..
Uncharted territory – your IP rights post-Brexit
30 September saw the passing of the final deadline for owners of EU..
Change and Opportunity: SPCs in the post-Brexit era
Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs) are incredibly important..
MIP IP Stars - The Rising Stars in IP 2021
Congratulations to Rebecca Anderson-Smith, Callum McGuinn and Ben..
‘IP Access’ fund, an extension of the existing UK IPO IP Audits Plus program
In 2021, innovation really has been a hot topic, with the..
Mewburn Ellis: top tier firm Legal 500 2022
Plastic-fuelled fungi
The “circular economy” is often seen as the ultimate goal for the..
WHOIS the infringer - identifying the registrant of a domain name
Disputes concerning domain names, linked to cybersquatting, fraud,..
Qualcomm unveils world's first 5G, AI-enabled, autonomous drone
In their latest offering, the Qualcomm Flight RB5 5G Platform,..
DABUS decision: AI cannot be patent inventor, UK Court of Appeal rules
On 21 September 2021, the UK Court of Appeal rejected an appeal..
The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Internet of Things
We are at the start of a technological revolution that will..
Deadline to protect Registered Community Designs or Hague international designs imminent
Owners of Registered Community Designs (RCDs) or Hague international..
Three ways future food technologies can improve the sustainability of animal feed
Like many others, lockdown has changed not only the daily rhythm in..
Software Inventions: UKIPO and EPO approaches to patent eligibility Special Report
Our new Special Report, Software Inventions: UKIPO and EPO approaches..
Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights X Fashion Industry: Fight fake fashion
Combatting counterfeit goods is a key commercial and strategic..
Intellectual Property Rights X Fashion Shows: Brand protection on the “legal runway”
In the fashion industry, intellectual property rights such as trade..
IP priorities for future food companies
The future of food is a hot topic. Whether it is cellular..
The other end of the antibody: Fc modifications as a focus for patent protection
For us antibody nerds, a fascinating aspect of the development of..
Liquid biopsies and the future of cancer treatment
In this Forward: On Demand vlog, Samuel Hart discusses liquid biopsy..
A Unified Patents Court in 2022?
The next hurdle in the way of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) opening..
Microplastics: tiny particles causing huge problems
Although small in size, microplastics are a big issue.
..
Most opposed patents of 2020
Every year at the EPO about 3000-4000 patents are opposed. This..
New Innovation Strategy for the UK
Last month the UK government launched anew Innovation Strategy,..
The Trademark Registry Exchange - protecting trade marks against Generic Top-Level Domains cybersquatting
The Trademark Registry Exchange (or ‘TREx’) offers domain name owners..
Intellectual property landscape 2021 - key questions answered
Partner Robert Watson recently participated in a Corporate LiveWire..
Apply for your Brexit UK trade mark re-filings now to minimise the risk of possible examination delays
Owners of EU trade mark rights that were pending on 31 December 2020..
A new referral to the EPO’s Enlarged Board of Appeal is plausible
Despite not having any express legislative basis in the European..
Mewburn Ellis board signs IP Inclusive Leaders’ Pledge
Mewburn Ellis’ nine board members are proud to be amongst dozens of..
Quantum System One: is Europe ready?
With quantum start-ups now appearing across the globe and tech giants..
Patent Landscape in Bioinformatics and Digital Health Special Report
Our new Special Report, Patent Landscape in Bioinformatics and..
Forward magazine - issue 5 out now!
We are delighted that the new edition of Mewburn Ellis Forward is now..
Senolytics are knock, knock, knocking on ageing’s door
In 1974, Bob Dylan asked that we stay forever young. Today, exciting..
Is metformin the key to anti-aging?
By 2050, it is estimated that one quarter of the global population..
WIPR Diversity Trailblazers 2021
Congratulations to former Partner Sarah Kostiuk-Smith on being..
Proud partners of the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) for a 3rd year
We are proud and excited to be entering our third year as an..
Board of Appeal oral proceedings may be held by videoconference (ViCo) in an emergency
On 16 July 2021, the Enlarged Board of Appeal confirmed that Board of..
WTR Global Leaders 2021
Congratulations to our former Head of Trade Marks Kate O'Rourke on..
Printed pills: a new dimension for medicine
Three dimensional (3D) printing is the latest buzzword ricocheting..
First human in vivo CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing results make history
The ability to directly edit a patient’s genome safely and..
Smart grids – cities of the future?
Increasingly, climate change and smart energy consumption are at the..
Green graphene - graphene from waste
As the demand for graphene continues to increase, so does the desire..
UEFA v The (European) Super League – intellectual property rights on the legal playing field
On 18 April 2021, the proposal for a new mid-week competition for..
Courts and electronic bundling - bundled into the modern age
The pandemic has forced many areas of society and business to adapt,..
Non-traditional pharma trade marks: position marks
In this final blog in our non-traditional pharma trade mark series,..
Monkey business: Banksy loses another trade mark registration for bad faith
A recent decision of the European Union Intellectual Property Office..
Pyrolysis oil – heating up plastics recycling
As society pushes towards a circular economy, the need for clever and..
Seeing Double at the EPO – what was G4/19 actually about?
Whether double patenting, the granting of more than one patent for..
IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals 2021
We are delighted to once again be ranked ‘gold tier’ in IAM PATENT..
Ambush marketing: playing by the rules at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games
In the year of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games (yes, it is still..
EPO Rule 19 EPC change regarding inventor addresses
There has been a recent change to Rule 19 EPC which concerns..
Circulating tumour cells: at the forefront of cancer diagnosis and treatment
In cancer patients, “metastasis” occurs as tumour cells break-away..
Cancer diagnosis – new data to support methylation-based liquid biopsy
New study demonstrates enormous potential
Earlier this month, we..
Forward: On Demand - vlogs, podcasts and webinars
Forward: On Demand is a new stream of video blogs (vlogs), podcasts..
The technologies helping shape the future of food
In this Forward: On Demand vlog, Fay Allen and Sarah Harvey discuss..
Exhausted by Brexit?
On 7 June 2021, the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) launched..
Structural batteries: “massless” energy storage
In recent years, people have sought to harness the world’s natural..
YouGov survey finds that nearly a quarter of businesses have been a victim of cybersquatting
A recent survey conducted by Mewburn Ellis, in conjunction with..
The future of autonomous vehicles on land and sea
In this Forward: On Demand vlog, Chris Cattley and Rob Walker discuss..
Pharma and Life Sciences Patent Extensions in Europe
Our Special Report Pharma and Life Sciences Patent Extensions in..
Mewburn Ellis ranked Tier 1 for Patent prosecution in MIP IP STARS 2021
We are delighted to be ranked Tier 1 for Patent Prosecution UK in MIP..
Financial Times Special Report - Europe's Leading Patent Law Firms 2021
We are delighted to once again be recognised in the Financial Times..
Cell therapy: repairing and rebuilding the body
Recent advances in medicine have, for the first time, allowed..
How environmentally friendly are electric vehicles?
In this Forward: On Demand vlog, Callum McGuinn and Joseph Newcombe..
Methylomics – analysing DNA methylation signatures to diagnose cancer
Traditional tissue biopsies are a vital aspect of current medical..
Unwrapping compostable packaging
In this Forward: On Demand vlog, Thomas Lonsdaleunwraps the future..
Healthy eating means more than just a balanced diet: future foods and fighting the risk of infection
Human health is inextricably linked to food – not least because..
From the Moon to Mars: tyres for space exploration
Conditions on the Moon can be extremely harsh. For instance,..
Do not pass Go - General Court affirms bad faith in Hasbro MONOPOLY trade mark case
EU General Court (GC) in Case T‑663/19 confirms that refiling an..
World Bicycle Day: a history of bicycles through patents
3rd June 2021 marks the 4th World Bicycle Day, which, in the words of..
Delivering drugs with DNA
We explore the emerging field of DNA and RNA nanotechnology, its..
Community registered designs may claim priority to a PCT application within 12 months, European Court of Justice rules
In a recent case (T-579/19), the European Court of Justice (ECJ) had..
Non-traditional pharma trade marks: sound, motion and multimedia marks
Following on from our previous blog posts examining the role of shape..
Protecting your brand - trade mark or design, or both?
Logos, shape marks, packaging and containers, and distinctive..
Patent Settlement Agreements with a “Pay for Delay” element – restrictive ‘by object’?
Almost two decades ago the European Commission (EC) launched a..
Intellectual property and artificial intelligence in the UK: what might the future hold?
AI is a hot topic for the current UK government. Last year, the UK..
Materials informatics: a data-based approach to materials discovery
Research into new materials with desirable properties has been one of..
Optimism, Growth and Fulfilment: how can we feel fulfilled at work at all stages of our career?
Earlier this month, on 4 May 2021, Mewburn Ellis was delighted to..
IP for forward-looking life sciences businesses
The recently released Mewburn Ellis IP Guide for SMEs sets out IP..
Diagnosing concussion: liquid biopsy is changing the game
Rugby, along with many other contact sports such as football, boxing..
A snapshot: EPO Opposition Trends in Engineering, Electronics and Software
In this Forward: On Demand vlog, Emma Graham and Stephen Gill give us..
EPO Opposition Trends in Engineering, Electronics and Software Special Report
In autumn 2020, we analysed more than 8000 opposition cases filed at..
Engineering oppositions: is there such thing as a “disguised method claim”?
Case - T 1798/08
This Board of Appeal decision from 2012 relates to..
We helped determine the meaning of “technical feature”
Case - T 0258/03
Our extensive arguments in relation to whether a..
Case review: what can be considered as prior art when assessing inventive step?
Case - T 0211/06
In the decision T 0211/06 from the EPO Board of..
A sense of hope with graphene-based COVID-19 detection
With mass COVID-19 vaccinations being rolled out by countries across..
Engineering oppositions: what is considered to be an implicit disclosure in a patent application?
Case - T2541/11
This decision provides guidance and clarification in..
COVID-19 win for AI pharma farmers
The vaccine roll-out is in action all over the world. Nevertheless,..
Impact of Brexit on pending EU trade mark applications
Trade mark owners should be alert to the deadline of 30th September..
UK SMEs left exposed by failure to protect IP
New research from Mewburn Ellis and YouGov to mark International IP..
What's the beef? Using meat terms to describe meat alternatives
With the ‘future foods’ market set to grow exponentially over the..
Non-traditional pharma trade marks: colours
Our previous blog post, Non-traditional pharma trade marks: shapes,..
Thoughts on UK IPO representation for foreign-owned UK trade mark registrations
Foreign owners of UK trade mark registrations are advised to appoint..
What is the cancer microbiome?
The “microbiome” is commonly associated with the gut microbiome, but..
Fish-free-fish: making a splash with cellular aquaculture
Whilst the oceans remain as vast and seemingly inexhaustible as ever,..
To zero and beyond! Technology for a carbon-negative future
22 April 2021 marks the 51st Earth Day, an annual event seeking to..
3D-printing: a breakthrough in battery technology
As described in our recent blog article Energy storage: batteries and..
Patenting a software invention at the UKIPO: a case study
In a recent success for one of our clients, we overcame an objection..
Composites in automotive applications: accelerating towards a greener future?
The UK government has recently vowed to cut 68% of CO2 emissions by..
Hydrogen: turning grey to green
Hydrogen fuels, with their high energy density and clean-air..
The future of organ transplantation: growing organs from scratch?
Organ transplantation has saved, transformed, and extended countless..
PsiQuantum expect commercial quantum computer by 2025
By 2025, the team from secretive quantum computing firm PsiQuantum..
EPO 2020 Patent Index - key trends
The European Patent Office (EPO) recently published its 2020 Patent..
Non-traditional pharma trade marks: shapes
In our previous blog post 'Naming pharmaceuticals: considerations for..
The UK tech sector – alive and kicking
Tech Nation recently published their latest report on the state of..
eFuel – the solution to green air travel?
Electric vehicles (EVs) look like an obvious replacement in working..
Clean, green, renewable machine - the future of centralised and distributed energy storage
The Government recently announced that they want to make the UK the..
Patent litigation in Germany - an overview
Germany – Europe’s largest economy – is an important market with..
A perfect score for British Gymnastics at IPEC
The national governing body (NGB) for gymnastics in the UK, British..
Selection inventions before the EPO
Chemical inventions are subject to the same criteria as all..
EPO confirms that the COMVIK approach to assessing patent eligibility is applicable to computer simulations (G1/19)
The Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBoA) has now issued their decision ..
Detecting progress: liquid biopsy in lung cancer
Lung cancer remained the leading cause of cancer death in 2020 with..
Webinar - Antibody patenting practice at the EPO
A new edition of the EPO Examination Guidelines came into force on 1..
Controlled environment agriculture - 5 things to watch
Simon Kremer attended the Agri-TechE “Controlled Environment..
Patenting highly engineered antibodies in Europe
In recent years, antibody engineering has moved into a new phase of..
Working together to define future mobility
The fourth industrial revolution – big data – blockchain – artificial..
Breaking down barriers to film recycling
Since the invention of cellophane by Swiss chemist Jacques E...
Developments in patenting activity in the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Humans generate a mind-boggling amount of data each day. This..
Are we about to see a boom in supersonic flight?
It has been nearly 20 years since the last commercial Concorde flight..
IP rights and company performance – a causal connection?
We believe that IP can play an important positive role in commercial..
Updates to the EPO Guidelines 2021
The long awaited EPO Guidelines update has now been published (albeit..
Autonomous vehicles: into reverse or about to shift up a gear?
While the past 12 months have been a rocky ride for much of the..
HALLOUMI v BBQLOUMI – General Court rules that there is no likelihood of confusion
In a long running dispute over the marks “HALLOUMI” and “BBQLOUMI”,..
Top 5 fields of technology for Internet of Things (IoT) patenting
The term “internet of things (IoT)” has often been mentioned in..
Maritime robotics - autonomous technology improving shipping efficiency
To date, much of the focus on autonomous technology has centred on..
Confidence with patent documents as a technical resource
What is a patent document and why could it be useful to your R&D team?
World Trademark Review 1000: The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals 2021
Mewburn Ellis is delighted to once again be ranked in World Trademark..
Circular economy of tyres: the end is just the beginning
Our reliance on tyres and their ubiquity in modern mobility makes..
Robert Watson appointed to EPO’s Standing Advisory Committee (SACEPO)
Robert Watson has been appointed to the EPO’s Standing Advisory..
New EPO Guidelines for Examination of Antibody Inventions
A new edition of the EPO examination guidelines will come into force..
New partner promotions
We are delighted to announce the promotion of two of our senior..
Protecting your intellectual property: top tips for start-ups
It is common currency that intellectual property (IP) is an important..
New Special Report: Validation Strategies for Pharmaceutical Patents in Europe
We are excited to announce the launch of our new Validation..
The principle of replacement in trade marks
The creation, by Brexit, of many thousands of new ‘comparable’ UK..
Practical considerations for evidence at the UKIPO
Since it is no longer possible to cover the UK by filing a trade mark..
Tyres: the secret polluter
Automotive emissions are a hot topic, but increased regulation..
SARS-CoV-2 variants – reasons to be optimistic
In recent weeks and months, several highly-transmissible variants of..
In(sta)fringement: reporting trade mark infringement on Instagram
Most readers will be familiar with Instagram, a global photo and..
Antimicrobial resistance: experience vs. experts
Oxford University have announced the launch of a world-leading..
How to patent your digital health apps – 5 key considerations
As the technical capabilities of smartphones continue to rise at an..
WIPO Proof – a digital signature tool for evidencing documents
Launched last year, WIPO Proof is an initiative created by the World..
Deep neural networks: of dogs, muffins, and self-driving cars
You may have come across the “animals vs. food” picture quiz on the..
Bugs and slimes – or protein for modern times?
Current agricultural practices are considered by many to be..
Lithium-metal batteries: a separator solution to dendrites
Global demand for clean, renewable energy is now higher than ever..
Webinar - What does Brexit really mean for trade marks, designs and patents?
The UK formally left the EU at 11pm GMT on 31 December 2020. This..
Forward: 2020 Features Special — out now!
Back in March we made the decision to take Forward magazine online...
Will the COVID-19 vaccines induce more robust immunity than infection with SARS-Cov-2 itself?
Respiratory viruses such as coronaviruses are notorious for evading..
Ericsson accuses Samsung of un-FRAND-ly patent negotiations
Following on from Unwired Planet v Huawei, Ericsson have launched a ..
Why building and nurturing an IP culture in your business is important
Intellectual property (“IP”) – patents in particular – form a key..
EU batteries directive – powering up opportunities?
Changing needs, new demands
Global energy consumption has more than..
Brexit has happened - what you need to know about the impact on trade marks
Kate O’Rourke sets out the principles for UK and EU trade mark..
What has railway signalling got to do with sealed tube transport?
Railways depend for modern long-distance and high density train..
New appointments signal rapid growth for Mewburn Ellis in Munich
We have continued to demonstrate impressive growth with a series of..
Safer and better: Nanotech Energy batteries signal positive news
Our lives require storage of electrical energy more than ever these..
Green tyres: wheeling towards sustainable rubber
Rubber is a crucial component of the tyre, with most tyres typically..
Software inventions at the European Patent Office: an in-depth study
It is sometimes difficult to obtain patent protection for inventions..
Cornwall powering the UK to the frontline of the lithium revolution
Cornwall has long been an historic centre for mining in the UK. Since..
Deep learning cracks the protein folding problem?
Deep learning has just made a new headline grabbing achievement:..
First regulatory approval for cultured meat – a major milestone
In December 2020, US company Eat Just were granted regulatory..
Düsseldorf Regional Court refers Nokia vs. Daimler licensing dispute to CJEU
As anticipated, the Düsseldorf Regional Court, in its decision Nokia..
Graphene getting the automotive industry into gear
In the years since graphene was first created at the University of..
Further constitutional challenges to Unified Patent Court Agreement
On 26 November 2020, the German Bundestag approved the ratification..
AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine shows efficacy against SARS-CoV-2
AstraZeneca/Oxford University have announced that their SARS-CoV-2..
Amazon Pharmacy trade mark battle
Amazon’s latest trademark dispute stems from its efforts to launch a..
UKIPO confirms new ‘Address for Service’ rules
CITMA is celebrating a major victory on Brexit in the wake of the..
Diversity & inclusion is high on our agenda
Diversity & inclusion is high on the agenda for Mewburn Ellis, it’s..
Protective barriers against COVID-19 – what’s behind the screen?
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a..
Aiming for the sky: aviation carbon reduction goals
One consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the significant..
Quantum braiding: an introduction to topological quantum computing
In our previous blog, ‘Noisy quantum computing: overcoming quantum..
And then there were two – Moderna SARS-CoV-2 vaccine shows efficacy
Moderna have announced that their SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidate..
Videoconference Oral Proceedings for EPO Oppositions – an Update
The EPO has announced changes to the Pilot Project for Video..
EPO Zooming to catch-up
UPDATE 6 APRIL 2022: On 6 April 2022, the EPO issued a notice..
Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine provides protection against SARS-CoV-2
Pfizer/BioNTech have now released more data from the Phase 3 clinical..
EPO and IEA dive deep into battery patent data
Weighing in at nearly 100 pages, the recent detailed report on..
Britain launches largest industry-led project to commercialise the use of quantum computing
On 6 November 2020, Britain launched its largest industry-led quantum..
COVID-19 rescue act or major overhaul of the UK insolvency framework?
As we go into England’s second national lockdown of this COVID-19..
The impact of Brexit on .EU domain names
Internet domain names are crucial commercial assets for many..
MycoTechnology wins $1M in protein challenge, accelerating growth of mushroom fermentation platform
Our client, MycoTechnology, has won the Radicle Growth Protein..
Mewburn Ellis support the British Science Association CREST Awards with £40,000 donation
We're really pleased to announce that we have now finalised an..
Highly-engineered antibodies: evolving the patent strategy
In recent years, antibody engineering has moved into a new phase of..
Impact of Brexit on designs – an update
As of 1st January 2021, Registered Community Designs (RCDs),..
Personalising medicine based on gut reaction
No, we are not talking about jumping to conclusions, but the..
Naming pharmaceuticals: considerations for choosing, clearing and registering pharmaceutical brand names
There are many different types of names you might see associated with..
The future of tyres in the driverless age
1886 is often regarded as the birth year of the modern car. This was..
Hummingbird Bioscience to start clinical trials for SARS-CoV-2-targeted antibody, HMBD-115
Our client, Hummingbird Bioscience, has received regulatory..
Utilising the potential of Amazon Brand Registry to protect and benefit your brand
As representatives for thousands of our client’s EUTM and UK trade..
How green are electric vehicles?
Electric vehicles are often hailed as a primary solution for..
Chambers & Partners 2020 Legal Guide - Band 1 Recommended Firm
We are pleased to report that Mewburn Ellis has been ranked Band 1 in
MIP IP STARS: The Rising Stars in IP 2020
Congratulations to Rebecca Anderson-Smith, Callum McGuinn and Ben..
Three-dimensional Ferrari trade mark driven to partial cancellation
EUIPO Cancellation Division partially cancels trade mark consisting..
Liquid biopsies support precision medicine
The treatment of cancer patients with therapies that are specifically..
Circular economy: rethinking composite plastic packaging
As we move towards a circular economy, there is a huge incentive for..
Robotic distancing
Minimising person to person contact is the major weapon in reducing..
Facebook’s Quest to bring Virtual Reality to the Masses
As explained in our article “Mixed reality: Is it the blend that will..
The UK Patent Box - is it delivering?
Patent Box legislation has been very much in vogue over the last few..
An introduction into extended reality (XR): the next level in 2020 vision
Extended reality (XR) is an umbrella term covering technologies that..
Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded for CRISPR "genetic scissors"
In 2012, Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier published their ..
Minimally invasive, maximum potential: liquid biopsy is redefining diagnosis
Many of us will know someone who has undergone a biopsy during a..
Thoughts on the transition to fully autonomous driving
Imagine the following situation: you just received your brand-new,..
Circular tyres: a new challenge for the circular economy
Tyres are huge. Globally over 2.2 billion tyres are produced a year –..
Mewburn Ellis: top tier firm Legal 500 2021
We are delighted to be ranked top tier for our patent practice in the..
Renewal of EU trade marks post-Brexit
Owners of EU Trade Marks (EUTMs) which are due to be renewed after..
More like the real meal - alternative plant-based proteins
Plant-based protein alternatives have arrived in the UK in a big way,..
Batteries are no longer just passengers in electric vehicles
In an earlier blog, we focussed on the chemistry aspects of the Tesla..
Genomics medicine has already proved its potential: the (success) story of non-invasive prenatal testing
We have previously discussed the tremendous progress made towards the..
Computer-implemented inventions at the UKIPO: a case review
As discussed in our Patentability of Software and Business Method..
A supercharged day for Tesla and battery tech
On September 22, Tesla CEO Elon Musk took to the stage during the..
How IP firms can provide an eco-friendly future
How can IP firms help create a more sustainable future? CITMA spoke..
Making the detection of cancer in liquid biopsies more sensitive
Besides being found within the nucleus and mitochondria of cells, DNA..
Bad Faith at the UK IPO – a review of recent cases
The recent Sky v SkyKick case has put a renewed focus on the issue of..
Banksy’s ‘Flower Thrower’ trade mark cancelled for bad faith
A recent decision of the European Union Intellectual Property Office..
Trust at the dinner table: public perception and regulation of novel food technologies
The history of humanity is the history of food technology. From the..
Pepper decision means conventionally bred plants and animals get a chilli reception at the EPO
Dr Ben Tolley and Dr Nick Sutcliffe of the Life Sciences team look at..
Jaguar Land Rover unable to defend three-dimensional trade mark before the UK High Court
UK High Court (HC) upholds decision of UK IPO to refuse registration..
Neoantigens: IP considerations for an emerging class of cancer immunotherapy
Recent cell and gene therapy product approvals have allowed the..
IP protection for 3D printed inventions
3D printing, known in industry as “additive manufacturing”, has..
Light speed AI: sci-fi buzzwords or computing reality?
In recent years, there has been rapid acceleration in quantum..
Post-quantum cryptography – a new hope
The race to build a large-scale quantum computer is one of the most..
Noisy quantum computing: overcoming quantum decoherence
Anticipated as the next great leap in human technology, quantum..
Compostable packaging – let’s break it down
Before Covid-19, I often used to buy my lunch in one of those..
Driving technology – could hands-free driving become legal in the UK?
Specialist Patent Attorney and Automotive Safety Specialist Simon..
Battery electrolytes: the latest graphene composites
Storage of electrical energy is now an essential part of our lives...
Combatting COVID-19: does Vitamin D have a role to play?
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), better..
The emergence of liquid biopsies as companion diagnostics
The development of liquid biopsies
The term liquid biopsy refers to..
Polymorphism: crystal clear or murky water
Movers and shapeshifters in the world of solid state chemistry
Have..
The benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to brands and businesses
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is standard practice for most..
Outstanding in the field - Biotechnology and the search for improved crops
At a time that the media is saturated with COVID-19 news, it can be..
Antimicrobial resistance – a global response to a global threat
The discovery and development of antimicrobial agents and..
Chinese character marks at the EUIPO
As Chinese companies continue to grow and expand overseas, there has..
General Court annuls the decision of EUIPO Board of Appeal in invalidity case involving Louis Vuitton’s well-known chequerboard print
General Court (GC) in Case T-105/19 confirms EUIPO Board of Appeal..
How cities are adapting to the electric vehicle revolution
The number of electric vehicles on roads around the world is growing..
Beyond cultured meat: Cellular Agriculture and animal products
In recent months, lab-grown meat is getting a lot of attention. As..
Unwired Planet v Huawei – the Supreme Court’s FRAND(ly) judgement
Published Wednesday 26th August 2020, the Supreme Court has handed..
What’s cool in the world of air conditioning?
Air conditioning accounts for approximately 10% of all electricity..
Most Opposed Patents of 2019
The four thousand or so European patents that are opposed every year..
Smart phones and intoxication detection
On the 18th of August 2020, researchers from the University of..
Oppositions & Appeals: we helped clear a new path to patenting dosage regimes
Case 10 – T 1020/03 (EPO Board of Appeal, 29 October 2004)
This..
Are Automated Lane Keeping Systems on the UK horizon?
On 18th August 2020, the UK government’s Department for Transport..
Nokia vs. Daimler - FRAND defence does not apply
Breaking News in Nokia vs. Daimler (2 O 34/19) - (FRAND/SEP case)
The..Mewburn Ellis Announce Local Office Charity Donations of over £55,000
Earlier this year, as part of our Forward Community Programme, each..
Five things you (really) need to know about patenting software in Europe
We often receive enquiries asking whether a particular..
3D printing and its layers of legal complexity
“3D printing” was first developed in the 1980s as a technique for..
Turning the tide – the growing use of electrical power in the shipping industry
Hybrid and fully electric cars are now beginning to garner wider..
Team Home or Team Office: the challenges of a COVID-19 secure workplace
Solicitor Hilda-Georgina Kwafo-Akoto discusses how the COVID-19..
Is Sky the limit in the David versus Goliath trade mark battle of the last decade?
Hilda-Georgina Kwafo-Akoto examines the potential implications of Sky..
Geographical indications: the evolving scope of evocation
Under EU law, protected designations of origin (PDOs) and protected..
Who has the power?
We recently discussed signing documents and deeds using e-signatures..
Cellular Agriculture – forecasting innovation
In their recent article in Nature Food, high-profile figures in the..
How self-driving cars are putting the brakes on vehicle collisions
When I first started driving, my parents would tell me to “drive..
®egistration and/or use of a trade mark – an automatic defence in the UK to trade mark infringement claims?
It is quite a common and perfectly reasonable assumption by some..
Amazon and Zoox steer toward the development of self-driving delivery vehicles
Amazon has agreed to acquire self-driving start-up Zoox for USD $1.2..
The Intellectual Property Enterprise Court - ongoing success for brand owners
Since 1990 businesses seeking to defend their intellectual property..
A brighter future for unconventional agriculture?
At the cost of more than one sad-looking hanging basket, I have come..
Oreo vs Twins - the biscuit wars
Since 2015, two major biscuit manufacturers, have been doing battle,..
Oppositions & Appeals: novelty of a patient sub-population
Case 9 – T 734/12 (EPO Board of Appeal, 17 May 2013)
Novelty of a..
Graphene: Patently clear
How is graphene contributing to the sustainability agenda? Matthew..
Smart tyres: under pressure to get smarter
For the past 175 years, the bulk of tyre innovation has focused on..
Great City Race 2020 – Run from Home
On Tuesday 21 July a team of 13 Mewburn runners from across our..
Branding in the TikTok® era
The social media landscape has changed significantly over the last..
UK formally withdraws from the UPC
In a statement to Parliament on 20 July 2020, the government formally..
Future mobility: exploring the new normal
In a recent article we discussed the numerous and varied aspects..
Polymer composites using natural fibres – growing reinforcements, growing in popularity
Fibre-reinforced polymer composites are lightweight yet strong..
Five tips for patenting inventions in personalised and stratified medicine
As medical treatments become increasingly bespoke, we reveal some..
Madrid Protocol designations - the growing requirement for domestic representatives
The absence of a requirement to instruct local professional..
Landmark judgement in German FRAND case Sisvel vs. Haier
On May 5, 2020, the Cartel Senate of the German Federal Supreme Court..
Can software be therapeutic?
The simple answer is: yes. Thanks for reading this post, stay tuned..
Batteries in trains – filling the gap
Hitachi Rail and Hyperdrive Innovation have recently announced an..
“Test, test, test” – the importance of diagnostics in pandemic preparedness
While the world waits for a vaccine to be developed and approved for..
Tesla: Driving battery development differently
“Invention is the most important product of man’s creative brain. The..
Protecting IP in bioinformatics and digital health: tips and tricks to tackle the “moving target problem”
As previously discussed, data driven approaches have revolutionised..
E-scooters – a solution to socially distanced travel?
The UK Government has announced that trials of rental e-scooters will..
Supreme Court confirms strict line on insufficiency in the UK
On 24 June 2020, the UK Supreme Court (UKSC) confirmed the UK courts’..
Oppositions & Appeals: we helped determine the meaning of “surgery”
Case 8 – T 1695/07 (EPO Board of Appeal, 28 September 2011)
We..
Industry makeover: how the cosmetics industry has been affected by COVID-19
The cosmetics industry has undergone a major transformation during..
Cellular immunity – a contributor to COVID-19 “dark matter”?
Immunologist Karl Friston of University College London has theorized..
A shake up in legal advice privilege: protect your client-lawyer communications!
Legal privilege is not an area of law that changes much. But the..
Increasing battery capacity: going Si high
Lithium-ion batteries can be found in almost every portable..
A Guide to Patenting Bioinformatics Inventions at the EPO: what is technical and why does it matter?
Many inventions in the field of bioinformatics (a term that we will..
Patenting bioplastics
The push towards a circular economy promises huge rewards for..
Financial Times: Europe's Leading Patent Law Firms 2020
We are delighted to once again be recognised in the Financial Times’..
Life after Skykick: where next for wide specification filings at the UK IPO and EU IPO?
This article examines some of the issues around the concept of use..
IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals 2020
We are delighted to once again be ranked ‘highly recommended’ in ‘IAM..
Patents driving tyre innovation
From the outside, tyres appear unassumingly simple. But below the..
Hot Chemistry – Shining a light on disease with radiopharmaceuticals
Back in 1979 The Buggles sang “video killed the radio star”. However,..
Can CRISPR help us in the fight against COVID-19?
As countries across the world continue to face widespread disruption..
Mitsubishi Electric to embark on 5G testing programme
In a recent press release Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced..
Zombie trade marks: overcoming the pitfalls of resurrecting a brand
Have you ever fondly remembered a brand from your youth and wished..
Links between COVID-19 severity and the immune system
The mechanism through which SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes..
COVID-19: Suspension of Surcharge for Late Payment of Renewal Fees at the EPO
The European Patent Office (EPO) now has a dedicated webpage..
Go for launch - SpaceX, NASA set for milestone mission
You may have been watching the build up to the manned launch of the..
Recycling polymer composites (mixed material complicates)
Polymer composites are finding use at an ever-increasing scale in an..
Contact tracing – our route out of the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown?
It appears that the United Kingdom is now past the peak of the..
Electronic signatures, “the new normal”?
The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting social distancing has meant that..
Fashion and the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: brand protection should never go out of style
The fashion industry like all other industries is navigating..
G3/19 The Enlarged Board of Appeal has its cake and eats it
On 14 May 2020, the Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent..
Oppositions & Appeals: We helped shape the debate on medical use claim patentability
Case 7 – T 879/12 (EPO Board of Appeal, 27 August 2014)
Find out..
New coronavirus (COVID-19) test allows rapid detection of neutralising antibodies
Our client, Duke-NUS, has helped to develop a new, rapid serological..
BREAKING: G3/19 – an end to the plant patentability saga?
On 14 May 2020, the Enlarged Boards of Appeal of the European Patent..
From airbags to medical gowns – Autoliv continues to save lives to help fight against coronavirus (COVID-19)
Companies around the world are pivoting to help meet global shortages..
Packaging – why a design registration could help protect your look
The food and drink sector is a notoriously crowded and competitive..
InVEntions of WWII
VE day on Friday 8 May 2020 is the 75th anniversary of the end of..
Counterfeit contagion: fraudulent activities spread amid coronavirus (COVID-19)
The COVID-19 outbreak has caused disruption to manufacturing..
IP STARS 2020: The leading practitioners in IP
Congratulations to Sofia Arenal, Chris Denison, Stephen Gill, Sean..
Can a functionally defined patent claim ‘protect’ my medicinal product?
From a patent perspective this may seem like a strange question with..
How computer modelling has been used during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak to inform political decisions
Throughout the emergence and continued spread of the novel..
Coronavirus (COVID-19) extension at the EPO: Part 2
The European Patent Office (EPO) now has a dedicated webpage..
BerGenBio’s bemcentinib selected for fast track as potential treatment for coronavirus (COVID-19)
In the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, bemcentinib produced..
The power of trade marks: social distancing logos during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
We are all now familiar with the social distancing guidelines set out..
5G and autonomous vehicles - accelerating data communication speed
The amount of data that self-driving cars are predicted to use is..
Graphene masks: facing up to coronavirus (COVID-19)
Since the development and isolation of graphene by researchers at..
Oppositions & Appeals: We moved the conversation on animal involvement
Case 6 – T 1262/04 (EPO Board of Appeal, 13 July 2012)
Should an..
Temporary modification of production conditions for PGIs and PDOs will help farmers struggling to deal with coronavirus (COVID-19)
The coronavirus lockdowns across many European countries have brought..
Governments look to protect companies from IP enforcement during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
A large effort is underway globally to ensure that there are enough..
Coronavirus (COVID-19), big data and silver linings
There is no denying that the COVID-19 pandemic will have tremendous..
The CJEU delivers the sweet fragrance of victory to Amazon
On 2 April 2020 the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU)..
How 3D printing is helping in the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19)
In a crisis which has been defined by its pace of change, 3D printing..
Has a cure for coronavirus (COVID-19) already been made?
Faced with the biggest global pandemic in most of our lifetimes, all..
A Taste for Waste – Plastic Recycling with Enzymes
Positive news has been relatively hard to come by of late, with..
Antibody tests for prior infection with SARS-CoV-2 – key tools for monitoring and managing the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
In recent weeks there’s been a lot of discussion in the media of..
Crown Use during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
As discussed in a previous blog, the UK Government has the power to..
Why a "COVID-19” trade mark should be rejected
The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly forced us all to adapt our..
Taking charge - repurposing, recycling and reinventing batteries
Innovation in repurposing, recycling and reinventing batteries will..
What use is computational biology during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?
There is one obvious way in which computational biology is showing..
3D printing community responds to the coronavirus (COVID-19) challenge
The coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic has left healthcare systems..
Patent infringement during a national emergency: a Coronavirus (COVID-19) perspective
Recent interesting reports highlight an emerging practice borne out..
A*STAR and MiRXES step up in the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19)
Our Singapore based-clients A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology..
New partner promotion and director appointments
We are delighted to announce five new roles across three of our..
Neoantigen-targeted adoptive cell therapies – the next frontier in cancer immunotherapy
Cancer immunotherapies harness the power of the patient’s immune..
CRISPR used in gene editing clinical trial for first time
The revolutionary CRISPR gene editing tool has been used inside the..
German Constitutional Court Verdict: Stumbling Block or Death Knell for the UPC?
On 20 March 2020, three years after the challenge was originally..
Coronavirus (COVID-19): a case study in emerging disease
UPDATE 14 APRIL 2022: In his blog Horizons in vaccine production, we..
Pushing Energy Storage to the MX(ene)
Batteries are indispensable in modern life. Not only is our reliance..
Changes to our correspondence address
In response to the current situation in London due to Coronavirus..
Parallel imports of pharmaceuticals – A UK trade mark perspective
The UK parallel import licensing scheme lets a medicine authorised in..
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Extension at the EPO: Not ALL deadlines extended!
Part 2 of this blog was published on 17 April 2020. Please read for..
Oppositions & Appeals: We set the standard for the strawman
Case 5 - T 649/92 (EPO Enlarged Board of Appeal, 2 July 1996)
In..
Bioinformatics, data and healthcare: Benefits and challenges of data-driven medicine
Algorithms (sometimes collectively referred to as ‘digital health’)..
When the sky is not the limit: Issues facing businesses when expanding services and products
Conflicting views on the legitimacy of filing trademarks with broad..
Finding the “lost Einsteins” of innovation
Sarah Kostiuk-Smith, Partner and European Patent Attorney at Mewburn..
Latest in Halloumi trade mark dispute
In July 2014, Bulgarian company M. J. Dairies EOOD filed a European..
What’s in a name? Enforcing trade mark rights and the own name defence
Clothing and accessories brand Hugo Boss has recently found itself..
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Updated: 2pm Sunday 1st November 2020
Mewburn Ellis took the..
Chemical collaborations: polymer partnerships
Collaboration is ubiquitous with successful research. Sharing results..
Lithium-sulfur batteries - an attractive alternative
Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are a ubiquitous energy source in..
2020 BioInfect Conference - tackling antimicrobial resistance
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a global threat. No new classes..
Darobactin – worming our way out of antibiotic resistance
Recently, we have been exploring antimicrobial resistance and the..
Sky v Skykick - status quo remains for trade mark owners
Background
Sky, the TV, broadcasting, media and telecommunications..
The evolutionary history of cancer - predicting the disease
Cells can acquire the mutations that drive the development of cancer..
World Trademark Review 1000: The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals 2020
Mewburn Ellis is delighted to once again be ranked in World Trade..
Genomics and Biodata in 2020: the future is here!
I have been working in the field of bioinformatics/computational..
Oppositions & Appeals: we opened the door for different types of data to support a medical use
Case 4 - T 801/06 (EPO Board of Appeal, 4 March 2009)
Now cited in..
Genetic engineering and synthetic biology – making cannabis production greener
The therapeutic benefits of medicinal cannabis have been liberally..
Enleofen strikes Singapore’s biggest ever biotech deal
In January it was announced that global pharmaceutical company ..
Patenting the Internet of Things – the European perspective
It is estimated that by 2025 there will be 26-30 billion devices in..
Munich office expansion with high-profile lateral hire
We are delighted to announce the high-profile appointment of Dr...
Farming the great indoors
When you think of a farm, what comes to mind? Rolling fields of green..
Advancements of genetic testing
The sequencing of the first human genome in 2003 was a major..
Oppositions & Appeals: We made the case for a new technical effect
Case 3 - T 1642/06 (EPO Board of Appeal, 23 August 2007)
The..
EPO announces fee increases from 1 April 2020
In recent times, the European Patent Office (EPO) has increased its..
A promising target for new antibiotics
In previous blogs we have discussed the global threat of ..
Welcome to our new website
We are delighted to announce the launch of our new website, it..
Proud Partners of the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC)
We are proud and excited to be starting our second year as an..
Simulations in bioinformatics and the G1/19 referral
What’s all this about?
Claims directed to methods of simulation or..
AI: Machine learning - the when’s and the how’s of machine learning
In our recent post on the use of artificial intelligence in..
EPO Board of Appeal confirms Broad Institute’s CRISPR patent lacks priority and upholds revocation decision
In one of the most high profile cases of recent years, a European..
JUVE Patent UK ranking 2020
We are delighted to be recommended in JUVE's Patent UK ranking 2020..
AI, deep learning and image analysis in bioinformatics
Putting “AI” in the title of your paper, or indeed in the name of..
Graphene Composites: 5 things we can learn from the IP data
The European Patent Office (EPO) recently released some initial data..
Will biomarkers come of age?
The world’s population is ageing. In 2018, for the first time in..
Sustainability: Graphene offers new opportunities
In our blog Green graphene - the pursuit of sustainability we looked..
The 12 elements of Christmas...
16O Chemistree, 16O Chemistree, how lovely are your elements…
As 2019..
Bioinformatics: biological and medical sciences in the age of big data
What is bioinformatics?
Bioinformatics is a term which we will use as..
Bioinformatics is everywhere!
As discussed in a previous post, most types of biological or medical..
Collagen scaffolds – the future of tissue engineering?
Despite the success of organ transplantation since its inception in..
AI: Machine learning - what is the machine actually learning?
Following on from Richard Johnson’s blog post “Inventive AI: can..
Indian Patent Office adopts the Patent Prosecution Highway programme
Recently, the Indian Union Cabinet approved a proposal for the Indian..
Gamma/delta T cells emerge as an untapped resource for cancer immunotherapy
Third lymphocyte lineage shows its mettle
B lymphocytes, a type of..
3 R's for sustainability of the battery industry
Zero-carbon transport and energy production are set to grow under the..
Rubik’s Cube trade mark in puzzling General Court decision
This article was originally published on the CITMA website. View the..
The Aboriginal flag dispute in focus: who owns the right to use?
The Australian government is considering whether to compulsorily..
Australian innovation patent system - the end is near
The Australian innovation patent system is on its last legs, which..
Biomarkers and precision medicine
A biomarker, an amalgamation of the term ‘biological marker’, is a..
General Court annuls incorrect interpreted specification of trade mark
We are delighted to report that our client Alliance Pharmaceuticals..
Lithium-ion batteries - powering the EVs of the future
In a recent blog, Eleanor Maciver reviewed a variety of promising..
Graphene Hackathon
16-17 November 2019 saw a momentous occasion: innovators, creators..
Meet the team: Richard Clegg, Partner, European Patent Attorney, Patent Attorney Litigator
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Richard Clegg about..
New report launched: EPO Opposition Trends in the Life Sciences Sector
Our new research has revealed several recent patterns regarding the..
Meet the team: Chris Denison, Partner, European Patent Attorney
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Chris Denison about..
Using IP to secure opportunities in the budding medical cannabis sector
The opportunities for innovation in medical cannabis dovetails with..
Top tips for patenting antibodies in Europe
Antibody development is a mature field of technology. There are..
Extreme fast charging – the future of electric vehicle batteries
With global deployment now exceeding five million, electric vehicles..
Oppositions a case to remember: we forced a fuller view of technical features
Case 1 – T 1859/08 ( EPO Board of Appeal, 5 June 2016)
This..
Meet The Team: Simon Kiddle, Partner, European Patent Attorney
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Simon Kiddle about..
Coffee capsules: greener grounds
Large consumer companies are increasingly focusing on reworking their..
Meet The Team: Katherine Green, Partner, European Patent Attorney
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Katherine Green..
Printing the unprintable – new technique expands graphene printing to previously unsuitable substrates
Printing with graphene is a large and growing field, representing a..
EPO Bioinformatics Roadshow
There is still a relatively prevalent view in the field of..
Plastics recycling: polymers unzipped
As society becomes more aware of the adverse effects of single-use..
Oppositions - a case to remember. Flexibility around added matter
Case 2 – T 0099/13 (EPO Board of Appeal, 14 January 2016)
The..
Chambers & Partners Legal Guide 2019
We are delighted to report that Mewburn Ellis has once again been..
Mewburn Ellis: top tier firm Legal 500 2019
We are delighted to have been ranked as a top tier firm in the 2019..
Lateral partner hire into our new Patent Director role
We are pleased to announce the lateral hire of Paul Misselbrook,..
Meet The Team: Emily Hayes, Partner, European Patent Attorney
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Emily Hayes about..
FRAND Licensing of SEPs in the age of connected cars
Cars are developing more and more into computerized mobile platforms...
Employing CRISPR to expose ‘hiding’ cancer cells to immunotherapy
Immunotherapy employs the patient’s immune system against cancer...
Renewable energy – huge potential for biofuel innovation
It has been widely reported in the media recently that we need to do..
Controlling genes – the new field of epitranscriptomics
The human genome contains roughly 20,000 genes that encode proteins...
Infecting the infection to tackle the rise in chemical antibiotic resistance
In previous blogs we have highlighted how certain families of..
Consumable consumables: the edible water bottle
Throughout the 20th century, plastic has become increasingly..
Inventive AI: can machines innovate?
The integration of technology based on artificial intelligence into..
5 top tips to prevent trade mark ‘genericide’
Most trade mark owners will be aware that their UK or European Union..
AMR - a global threat
A hot topic on everyone’s lips at the moment is Climate Change and..
T cell engagers - dark horses of immunotherapy
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology has attracted a lot of..
Budding opportunities for pharma
With shifting attitudes surrounding cannabis-based drugs, it is..
From data to drugs - a brief introduction to AI in drug discovery
The road to an approved drug is well known to be an arduous journey...
Strict and inflexible: material claims at the EPO
Innovators in advanced materials can face an uphill struggle to get..
Obtaining patent protection for fermentation processes and products – the European perspective
Fermented foods have been known for millennia and form an important..
Batteries for the future: the sky may not be the limit!
In an earlier blog Sam Bailey discussed the growing demands for high..
Cannabis: on to greener pastures?
Callum McGuinn, explores the history of social attitudes towards..
Intermodality: the future of transport?
Search the term 'intermodality' and you'll turn up a number of..
Food of the future – regulating and protecting gene-edited crops
A recent episode of the BBC World Service’s excellent series “50..
DIY biology dilemma – regulating biohacking
Science kits may have inspired generations of children to become..
Printing with graphene: exploring the inks set to unleash graphene's potential
Graphene has been widely heralded as a game-changer in the research..
Shifting treatments: cancer as a manageable disease
As new treatments drive a shift towards treating cancer as a..
Team Bath Racing Electric - zooming through 2019
Each year, over 100 university engineering teams from around the..
Patentable subject matter in bioinformatics - USPTO’s January 2019 guidance
In this article, Paul Liu and Ashley Barton from Duane Morris LLP..
Understanding Europe’s trade secret rules
Companies invest in developing or acquiring intellectual capital to..
Challenges Post Selex
Twenty-five years ago Tuerk and Gold reported the Selex method. Being..
USPTO changes rules of representation for overseas trade mark applicants
The US Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) has recently changed the..
A case in point - Trunki vs Kiddee
Rob Law, the founder and chief executive of Magmatic who make the..