The Board of Appeal in T 0439/22 referred questions to the Enlarged Board of Appeal in order to clarify the extent to which the description should be referred to when interpreting the claims.

It has now been over two years since the Enlarged Board issued their decision G2/21 regarding "plausibility", and the conditions under which post-filed data can be taken into account to support a technical effect.

The EU "unitary patent" took a step closer to being established on 15 October when a further EU state ratified the preparatory protocol.

The CJEU has declined to issue a judgment in C-239/19 (Eli Lilly v Genentech). The case concerned a referral from the UK High Court

As previously reported, at the end of last year the EPO's Legal Board of Appeal rejected the European applications of Stephen Thaler which attempted to name a computer system (DABUS) as the sole inventor.

Following rejection of the constitutional challenge against Germany's participation in the Unified Patent Court (UPC) reported here, on 27 September 2021 Germany ratified the Protocol on the ...

Following publication of the UK Government's paper relating to the future relationship of the UK with the EU, a government spokesperson has confirmed that the UK will "not be seeking involvement in the

The UK IPO has issued an open consultation with a call for views in relation to standard essential patents.

The EPO has announced that it is further extending the use of videoconference for opposition division oral proceedings until 31 May 2022.

J A Kemp attorneys are helping clients protect their intellectual property in the growing green sector. Ahead of COP29, they predict key growth areas in Cleantech, including plastics recycling and agriculture, which are critical to combating climate change.

This webinar, hosted by Guy Brain and Chris Milton, explores key considerations for patents on pharmaceutical polymorphs at the European Patent Office. Topics include effective drafting strategies, establishing novelty and inventive steps, addressing common challenges, and insights from recent case law and trends.

The UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) has announced that the official fees relating to patents, trade marks and designs will be increasing from 1 April 2026.

It has been announced that the European Patent Office (EPO) has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Justice and Peace of Costa Rica to enable European patents to be validated in Costa Rica.

EPO oppositions remain one of the most powerful tools for challenging the validity of a European patent after grant. They offer a centralised and cost-effective route to attack any European patent with effect across...

The EPO has announced that AI will be used to prepare the minutes of oral proceedings for all examination and opposition oral proceedings...

The EPO has introduced a pilot for preparing the minutes of oral proceedings held by videoconference (VC) using AI tools. Their goal is to further improve the quality of the minutes and to provide them more efficiently.

This webinar explores the critical Freedom to Operate (FTO) process for life sciences companies, examining when FTO assessments are necessary and how to navigate the complex landscape of patent risks. From initial search strategies and cost considerations to evaluating potential infringement risks and implementing ongoing monitoring systems, the session provides practical guidance for managing intellectual property challenges in product development and commercialization.

Added matter remains one of the most challenging and unforgiving grounds for objection at the European Patent Office. A so-called "inescapable trap" is created by the interplay between Articles 123(2) and (3) EPC.

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has announced the opening of a new fund for 2026, enabling SMEs established in one of the 27 EU Member States...

Hermione Thompson and John Leeming are partners and European and UK Patent Attorneys at J A Kemp.