All domain names, or web addresses, can be divided into two main parts. The second-level domain is the element chosen by the end user and can be any combination of characters, within limits. The top-level domain (TLD) is the suffix of the domain name and is determined by the organisation administering the domain. Typical examples of top-level domains are .com, .org and .net. Historically, the number of TLDs available was limited to six generic top level domains (gTLDs) (.com, .org, .net,...
Partners James Short, Simon Binnie, Howard Sands and Jason Pelly contributed to IAM’s recent article on ‘How to register AI patents in Asia-Pacific and Europe: the dos and don’ts’. The lack of harmonisation when it comes to the patentability of AI-related inventions makes registering rights in this space ever more challenging. As rapid technological advancement must, by its very nature, outpace legislation, this leaves a swathe of critical innovations in a grey area when it comes to...
One of my interests outside of work is mountain biking. Being a patent attorney, I inevitably love the technology that goes into bikes too. In the case of one innovative bike company, Atherton Bikes, this interest overlaps with one of my professional interests, additive manufacturing. The story behind Atherton Bikes is remarkable. The company was founded by the Atherton family, a sister and two brothers who have all been mountain bike world champions. After spending years developing bikes for...
Do you have an interest in mRNA technologies, in particular mRNA vaccines? The European Patent Office (EPO) has published an insight report providing an overview of patent trends and broader information on the field of mRNA technologies (see here). The report provides an accessible overview of this growing field with analysis of the EPOs extensive patent data. The results will be of interest to broad stakeholders in academia and industry who are active in this exciting area. While mRNA...
The recent explosion in Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has led to advances in many key areas of technology. From manufacture to medicine, and many other areas in between, it seems like AI is touching all areas of development. I am pleased to report that the growth of AI technology has reached a kitchen appliance close to all our hearts, the humble toaster. A patent application for an AI powered toaster which gets the perfect level of browning each time has now been granted by the...
In July, the UPC Preparatory Committee released their first update since early April regarding the progress of the UPC. This included reports on a number of important matters. Importantly, the Court’s Rules of Procedure and its Table of Fees have been adopted and will enter into force on 1 September 2022. A consolidated version of the Rules of Procedure, the first since March 2017, is expected to be available on the UPC website soon. In addition, the locations of the local and regional...
Boult Wade Tennant was delighted to host an event as part of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) Women in IP Global Networking Event 2022 on 7 April. Guests were welcomed to our London office to enjoy cocktails and sushi whilst overlooking the fantastic London cityscape. After two years where this event has been held virtually, it was great to finally be able to meet with people face-to-face and learn how everyone has adapted to new ways of working. During the...
A few months into the Provisional Application Phase, the Unified Patent Court (UPC) is definitely gaining momentum. Judges are being interviewed and the IT system, including the Case Management System, is said to be being finalised. Previously, the UPC Committee had been hoping to have the UPC up and running on 1 October 2022, but the UPC Preparatory Committee now estimates that the UPC will open its doors in Q4 2022 or Q1 2023. This 6-month window seems like a more realistic estimate and is...
An Apple patent application published last week gives a preview of possible future Apple tech. They discuss authenticating a user based on biometric ID obtained from wireless headphones. In one example, the Air Pods emit a signal into the user's ear canal and measure the reflection. Each person's reflection is unique - much like a fingerprint. This could be used to prevent unauthorised use which improves data security and reduces theft risk. Another example of patent publications providing a...
The Provisional Application Phase (PAP) of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) has finally started! Austria deposited their ratification of the PAP-Protocol on 18 January 2022, taking the number of ratifications to thirteen, as required for entry into force of this Protocol. This is the first of two steps required for the UPC to become operational. The second is that Germany must ratify the UPC Agreement. The Provisional Application Phase provides for a period of preparatory work, including the...
There are many examples of technological revolutions that have failed to achieve commercial success. The IEEE's Spectrum magazine recently focused on General Magic, whose 1990s "Magic Cap" operating system was a precursor to the ubiquitous smartphone revolution, in attempting to bridge the then mainstream PDA with the newer cellular networking technology. The company was liquidated in 2004, with one commentator remarking that it "ran ahead of the technological capabilities". Nonetheless,...
We've known for a while that the Unified Patent Court (UPC) was getting closer to becoming a reality after a very bumpy road, but I am excited to see that is now starting to look like it will be with us sooner rather than later! Last week, Austria finalised the parliamentary ratification procedure relating to the "PAP-Protocol". This Protocol is secondary legislation relating to a Provisional Application Phase (PAP) of the UPC which will enable last preparations to be made before the UPC...
The UPC Preparatory Committee met on 27 October 2021, and it seems that preparations for the Unified Patent Court (UPC) are warming up again. Those with long memories will recall that, for many EU contracting states, the UPC will provide a single court for litigation of European patents, rather than having to rely on separate national litigation actions. Only one more country is required to ratify the PAP-Protocol of the UPC, meaning that the provisional application phase (PAP) of the UPC...
A couple of weeks ago I posted that myself and four of my colleagues had signed up to the IP Inclusive Senior Leaders' Pledge. We individually signed up to the eight commitments, and within them more specific commitments. This week we were delighted to honour some of these commitments, as we hosted students from The Sutton Trust at a virtual three day placement introducing them to the world of patents, and IP in general. During their time with us the attendees took part in a variety of...
The European Patent Office (EPO) has recently released its new Statistics and Trends Centre, which is a free service that allows interactive and searchable access to the data held in the EPO’s Patent Index. The new Centre allows you to visually explore and compare statistics across 35 fields of technology for European patent applications originating from the 38 EPO member states as well as from other countries with 1000 or more annual European applications (according to the first applicant's...
