Lucy Coe - Mar 11, 2024
Challenging patents and other clearance actions in Europe
Whether it is to remove a current infringement threat, clear the way to reduce the risk in launching a new product, for negotiation purposes, or as part of a commercial strategy aimed at attacking a competitor’s patent portfolio and business, there are many reasons why a business may want to...
Sign up to our monthly newsletter to be kept up to date with the latest from the world of IP.
The major players in the SEP landscape in Europe
Next in our series of blogs, we have investigated the major players..
Most opposed patents of 2023
Multiple sclerosis therapies are the subject of two of the most..
Amended Rules of Procedure of the EPO Boards of Appeal are coming into force on 1 January 2024
The EPO Boards of Appeal have now published their amended Rules of..
How does declaring a patent or application as “essential to a standard” affect the pre-grant experience of an application? – Part 3
This article continues our series of blogs investigating whether or..
EPO will accelerate oppositions when there are parallel UPC infringement or revocation proceedings
The EPO have announced in the November 2023 Official Journal that..
Practical tips for EPO appeal proceedings under the new, stricter rules: 5 key takeaways from a recent EPO conference
In 2020 the EPO revised the rules that govern the procedure at the..
Most opposed patents of 2022
As with CRISPR, patents directed to Nobel Prize-winning technologies..
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..
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: Callum McGuinn, Partner and Patent Attorney in the Chemistry team, London
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Callum McGuinn..
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..
Should I file third party observations?
A study of the consequences of filing third party observations (TPOs)..
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..
Opposition and examination oral proceedings by videoconference (ViCo) now as standard
In response to the significant travel restrictions that were in place..
Positive feedback on oral proceedings in oppositions carried out by videoconference
In September, the EPO commissioned a survey about their opposition..
Eight days – the longest ever opposition hearing at the EPO?
The EPO Opposition Division just issued its decision on European..
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..
We perform significantly better than the EPO average at oppositions
We really are experts when it comes to opposing patents and our..
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..
Meet the team: Simon Parry, Partner, Patent Attorney, Engineering, Manchester
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Simon Parry about..
Meet the team: Emma Graham, Partner, Patent Attorney, Engineering, London
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Emma Graham about..
Meet the Team: Stephen Gill, Partner, Patent Attorney, Engineering, Cambridge
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Stephen Gill about..
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..
2022 changes to EPO Guidelines: highlights
With the 2021 changes to the examination guidelines, the EPO changed..
A guide to EPO opposition proceedings by videoconference
EPO oppositions by videoconference only became possible relatively..
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..
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..
Most opposed patents of 2020
Every year at the EPO about 3000-4000 patents are opposed. This..
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..
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..
Engineering oppositions: what is considered to be an implicit disclosure in a patent application?
Case - T2541/11
This decision provides guidance and clarification in..
Practical considerations for evidence at the UKIPO
Since it is no longer possible to cover the UK by filing a trade mark..
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..
UKIPO confirms new ‘Address for Service’ rules
CITMA is celebrating a major victory on Brexit in the wake of the..
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..
Most Opposed Patents of 2019
The four thousand or so European patents that are opposed every year..
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..
Oppositions & Appeals: novelty of a patient sub-population
Case 9 – T 734/12 (EPO Board of Appeal, 17 May 2013)
Novelty of a..
Oppositions & Appeals: we helped determine the meaning of “surgery”
Case 8 – T 1695/07 (EPO Board of Appeal, 28 September 2011)
We..
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..
Oppositions & Appeals: We moved the conversation on animal involvement
Case 6 – T 1262/04 (EPO Board of Appeal, 13 July 2012)
Should an..
Oppositions & Appeals: We set the standard for the strawman
Case 5 - T 649/92 (EPO Enlarged Board of Appeal, 2 July 1996)
In..
EPO streamlining: the opposition timeline tightens
Our analysis of patent oppositions has revealed that early action has..
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..
Oppositions & Appeals: We made the case for a new technical effect
Case 3 - T 1642/06 (EPO Board of Appeal, 23 August 2007)
The..
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..
EPO oppositions: Nine key questions answered
Mewburn Ellis has dug deep into a decade of EPO life sciences'..
Meet the team: Chris Denison, Partner, European Patent Attorney
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Chris Denison about..
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..
Meet The Team: Katherine Green, Partner, European Patent Attorney
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Katherine Green..
Meet The Team: Seán Walton, Partner, European Patent Attorney
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Seán Walton about..
Oppositions - a case to remember. Flexibility around added matter
Case 2 – T 0099/13 (EPO Board of Appeal, 14 January 2016)
The..
Meet The Team: Emily Hayes, Partner, European Patent Attorney
As part of our 'meet the team' series, we talk to Emily Hayes about..