The EPO has launched a user consultation into the desirability of introducing a "grace period" into the European patent system.

As reported recently, an EPO Board of Appeal has referred questions to the Enlarged Board of Appeal seeking clarification on the extent to which a computer-implemented simulation of a technical system or process...

In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the EPO has decided (see here and here) to introduce a temporary waiver of the additional fee payable when a renewal fee is paid late.

The high court has handed down a judgement in the case Facebook v Voxer. The case concerned European Patent (UK) No. 2 393 259, entitled "Telecommunication and multimedia...

If you are holding or applying for patents granted by the European Patent Office (EPO), you should ensure that you are well-informed about a major change to European patent law...

"All Hallows' Eve", or "Halloween", is a celebration observed in many countries on 31 October. Traditional Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, apple bobbing, and carving jack-o'-lanterns.

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.

The German Constitutional Court has found that the Bundestag did not effectively pass the Act of Approval of the Unified Patent Court Agreement (UPCA) rendering the Act of Approval void.

This might sound like the start of a festive cracker joke, but is in fact the one of the main points of contention in the recent judgment, Claydon v Mzuri. The comparison was made in relation ...

The EPO's Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBA) is currently considering in case G1/21 the legality of holding oral proceedings by video conference without the consent of the parties...

The EPO's Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBA) is currently considering in case G1/21 the legality of holding oral proceedings by video conference without the consent of the parties...

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.

On 23 March 2023, the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act passed into law in England, allowing use of gene-edited crops and livestock in English agriculture for the first time.