News & insights

From Filing to Opposition: What are the Statistics on Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Patents & Applications at the EPO

Applications and patents given the classification G06N provide a useful indication of trends in European applications and patents concerned with AI and uses of AI.

The Period of Provisional Application of the UPC Agreement has Started

Following our update earlier this month, we can now report that the Provisional Application Period of the UPC agreement started on 19 January 2022, after Austria deposited its instrument of ratification of the Protocol on Provisional Application of the UPC agreement on 18 January 2022.

IP updates

IP Funding for SMEs in the EU

The SME Fund is a new grant scheme set up to provide SMEs in the European Union access to funding towards protecting their IP.

IP updates

The European Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court – January 2022 Update

After years of delay caused by legal challenges in Germany to ratification of the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (also known as the “UPC Agreement” or “UPCA”), it now seems that the Unified Patent Court (UPC) and the European Unitary Patent will come into effect in 2022.

IP insights

Patenting Alloys at the EPO: Clarity

The European Patent Office has developed a consistent approach to the examination of patent applications relating to alloys, taking into consideration the unique nature of these important industrial materials.

IP insights

Fibrogen v Akebia: A Clash of Principles Between the Judges in the Court of Appeal

In this article, rather than attempting to summarise each technical and legal issue raised in the case, the author seeks to produce a ‘quick read’, whereby the principles decided which are of general applicability to the assessment of sufficiency of claims limited by functional requirements can be understood without having to delve into the detail of the specific patents under consideration.

IP insights

Technology Trends – Why Patent Your Hidden AI?

As AI expands rapidly into all areas of life, national and international bodies are racing to try to keep abreast of the ethical, legal, and national security implications of this expansion, and this continuing evolution has a direct bearing on the value of patenting AI technology, hidden or not.