Understanding Patent Applications and Methods for Best Approaches in Europe and the U.S.
The Unified Patent Court (UPC) is revolutionizing the way patents are enforced in Europe, and McDermott’s intellectual property (IP) team is here to help you navigate this dynamic landscape. Our Legal Lens on the Unified...more
In March 2024, the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry published changes to its 2003 Patent Rules. These applicant-friendly changes include (1) a relaxation in the rules relating to the submission of information...more
As the era of biologics and biosimilar litigations heats up in the United States, Europe’s Unified Patent Court (UPC) is also taking center stage with the first two biosimilar disputes filed in March and April....more
Hosted by C5 Group, the 17th Annual Forum on Pharma & Biotech Patent Litigation in Europe returns for another exciting year with curated programming that will provide up-to-the-minute information and strategic insights on...more
An AI system cannot be named as the inventor in a UK patent application – the inventor(s) must be human. Technical developments created by AI cannot be ‘inventions’ within the meaning of UK patent legislation. UK patent...more
K-Fee System GmbH v. Nespresso USA, Inc., Appeal No. 2022-2042 (Fed. Cir. Dec. 26, 2023) In an appeal from a district court judgment of noninfringement, the Federal Circuit reversed the underlying claim construction...more
The Background: There has been a growing trend to invalidate European patents by challenging their formal priority and using intervening prior art. The Technical Boards of Appeal of the European Patent Office ("EPO") referred...more
Beginning November 1, 2023, notices from the European Patent Office (EPO) will have a response period that is computed from the date noted on the communication. This represents a change in EPO procedures. Currently, EPO...more
The Unified Patent Court (UPC) has issued its first reasoned decisions since launching on June 1 and, as expected, the decisions favor patentees. The UPC’s Local Division Düsseldorf ordered a preliminary injunction in one...more
Hosted by C5, the 16th Annual Forum on Pharma & Biotech Patent Litigation in Europe returns 23-24 May, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Central Station, Amsterdam with curated programing for you to gain the knowledge and...more
The European Patent Office and participating European Countries have established a Unified Patent Court and a European patent with unitary effect (also called a Unitary Patent) that will come into effect on June 1, 2023. ...more
For the past 50 years, it has been possible to obtain a patent in most countries in Europe by filing a single patent application in the European Patent Office (EPO). Such a patent application is prosecuted in the EPO and,...more
A major change to the European patent system is expected in 2023. Currently, patent owners: 1) validate European patents in individual States, 2) pay renewal fees, and 3) enforce the patent independently in each individual...more
On Oct. 13, 2022, the Administrative Council of the European Patent Office (EPO) voted to change Rule 126(2) of the EPC (the “10-day rule”). This change comes as part of the annual revision cycle for the EPC and PCT-EPO...more
With the introduction of the European Patent with unitary effect (Unitary Patent) and the Unified Patent Court (UPC), the question arises whether the use of this new system makes economic sense for patent owners. Patent...more
Seven years after the Member States of the EU signed the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (“UPCA”), the Unitary Patent (“UP”) and the Unified Patent Court (“UPC”) are likely to commence during the second half of 2022. This...more
A Unified Patent Court (UPC) is expected to officially open its doors in Europe in late 2022 or early 2023. The UPC is a patent‑specific court established by 24 participating European Union (EU) member states, with the goal...more
The Unitary Patents system – providing for the new Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court (UPC) – will have a profound impact on patent protection, patent enforcement and patent revocation proceedings in Europe. The Unitary...more
Despite the popularity of the European Patent Office (EPO), the German government has devoted significant resources to German Patent and Trademark Office (GPTO). Answering to a request from members of the German Parliament,...more
Appealing the Rejection of a Patent Application in the United States, Europe, and China - In some circumstances, appealing the rejection of a patent application is the only practical recourse a patent applicant may have...more
On June 16, 2020, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) released final rules (the “Rules”) implementing changes to how Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) is calculated in certain circumstances in view of Supernus Pharms.,...more
This is the third part of our three-part series on the impact of the COVID-19 on patent offices around the world (Part 1 was on the USPTO and Part 2 was on the Chinese Patent Office). We focus today on the European Patent...more
Patentees may obtain additional PTA if the USPTO’s calculation of “applicant delay” includes a period of time during which the patentee could have taken “no identifiable effort” to avoid. However, the onus is entirely on the...more
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit found that the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) erred in calculating a patent term adjustment (PTA) for a patent covering an oral osmotic form of an antihypertensive drug,...more
The process of Brexit will take many years, and the implications for our clients’ business will unfold over time. Our MoFo Brexit Task Force is coordinating Brexit-related legal analysis across all of our offices, and...more