Our business is discreet and highly confidential. So when something very exciting happens, it's great to be able to bring you some updates from our company from time to time.
Supreme Court Decision confirms pregabalin invalidity
The Supreme Court has recently published its decision in the case of Warner-Lambert Company LLC v Generics (UK) Ltd t/a Mylan and another.
more
Updates to the guidelines for examination of computer-implemented inventions in Europe
These new guidelines are in force from 1 November 2018.
more
VentureFest North East - 14 November 2018, St James' Park, Newcastle
We are pleased to announce that Secerna LLP will be exhibiting at VentureFest North East at St James' Park, Newcastle
more
EMCON, 18 October 2018, Xcel Centre, Newton Aycliffe
We are pleased to announce that Sam Bloor will be attending the EMCON (formerly Durham Oktoberfest) event on 18 October 2018.
more
Gilead loses High Court battle to defend Truvada® SPC
The English High Court yesterday published its decision relating to the validity of a Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC) (SPC/GB05/041).
more
IFIB 2018 International Forum on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioeconomy, Turin
We are pleased to announce that Huw Jenkins will be attending the IFIB 2018 International Forum on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioeconomy in Turin.
more
Navigating the maize: developing innovative crops in Europe
Agricultural technology is changing, and faster than many people realise. An underlying goal is to increase yields or other advantageous traits of crops whilst reducing inputs and environmental impacts.
more
BioFocus Conference 3 July 2018
We are pleased to announce that Huw Jenkins from Secerna will be attending the BioFocus Conference in Newcastle on Tuesday 3rd July.
more
Renewed thinking for patents in Wind, Wave and Tidal Energy
Secerna LLP provides legal insights on patents in the Renewable Energy Sector.
more
Secerna LLP Expands its Life Sciences Team
Secerna is delighted to announce the arrival of Huw Jenkins to our team.
more
Protecting Offshore Wind Technology in Taiwan
With over 1,200 km of coastline and a population of over 23 million people, Taiwan has both the natural resource and demand for Offshore Wind energy.
more
Another Referral to the European Court of Justice on SPC Regulation
The UK Court of Appeal has recently referred a question relating to Article 3(a) of the SPC Regulation (469/2009) to the European Court of Justice (the CJEU) in the case of Sandoz Limited v Searle.
more
Change in UKIPO fees as of 6th April 2018
The UK intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) will be introducing a number of additional fees and also increasing existing fees as of 6th April 2018.
more
Festive and New Year Period
Best wishes to everyone over the festive season and have a Happy New Year
more
The Commercial UAV Show, ExCel London - 15 & 16 November 2017
We are pleased to announce that Alexander Simpson from Secerna will be attending The Commercial UAV Show on 15 November 2017
more
Cell & Gene Meeting on the Mesa, 4 - 6 October, San Diego
We are pleased to announce that Charlotte Watkins from Secerna will be attending the Cell & Gene Meeting in San Diego.
more
Webmarking of Products Protected by Registered Designs
UKIPO announcement from 1 October 2017 - UK registered design owners will have a new option for marking products
more
Corporation Tax Deductions – Taking Advantage of Patent Box
UK companies making profits from patented inventions and other IP rights may be eligible for a lower rate of corporation tax.
more
Reference Numerals Can Affect Claim Construction
In Curt G. Joa, Inc v Fameccanica Data Judge Hacon has clarified how reference numerals can affect how a patent claim is to be interpreted.
more
SIPO Formalises Revisions to its Patent Examination Guidelines
These new guidelines were brought into effect as of 1 April 2017.
more
All-Energy® 2017, Glasgow
Last week, Secerna LLP attended the All-Energy® 2017 conference in Glasgow.
more
Unified Patent Court – December Launch Date?
New Unified Patent Court expected to launch in December 2017.
more
UK Court Decision Kills Keepalive Patent
In its Judgment on the dispute between Sony Communications and SSH Communications the UK High Court has deemed invalid patent EP(UK) 2254311 which relates to the use of keepalive packets.
more
Upcoming Changes to the UK Patent Rules
Forthcoming amendments of the UK Patents Rules 2007 will have an impact on patent practice in front of the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO).
more
Accelerating Immunotherapy US Patent Prosecution
On 29 June 2016, the US Patent Office announced a Pilot Program for Cancer Immunotherapy aimed at accelerating prosecution and grant of cancer immunotherapy patent applications.
more
Streamlined European Opposition Procedure
The European Patent Office (EPO) has recently announced some changes to the current procedure for opposing a European patent. These changes which will take effect from 1 July 2016.
more
Bio International Convention, San Francisco, June 2016
We are pleased to announce that attorneys from Secerna will be attending the BIO International Convention in San Francisco in June 2016.
more
International Bar Association (IBA) Conference, San Francisco, June 2016
One of our patent attorneys, Jason Boakes, will be moderating at the IBA conference in San Francisco in early June 2016.
more
Recent UK Court decision provides insight on the interplay between clarity and insufficiency
In a recent patent case, Unwired Planet International Limited v Huawei Technologies Co Limited and others, the defendants tried to argue that a term used in the claims lacked clarity to the extent it was “truly ambiguous” and that as a result the patent in question was insufficient.
more
Common Sense from EPO on Transfer of Employee Inventions
A recent decision published as T0205/14 by the Technical Board of Appeal at the European Patent Office outlines the possibility that an express assignment of the right to priority is not necessary for a Patentee to enjoy a right to priority.
more
Accelerated Patent Prosecution via the Green Channel
In 2009, the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) began a scheme to allow accelerated prosecution for inventions that relate to green technologies.
more
Plausibility, Sufficiency and Inventive Step
A recent decision issued by the High Court has found that a patent to the second medical use of atomoxetine for the treatment of ADHD is valid.
more
European Patents can now be validated in the Republic of Moldova
As of 1 November 2015, European Patents can be validated in the Republic of Moldova.
more
EPO Clarifies Timing for Filing Divisional Patent Applications
In a recent decision J0022/13 the EPO has helped clarify when a divisional patent application can be validly filed.
more
Durham Oktoberfest 22 October 2015
We are pleased to announce that Attorneys from Secerna will be exhibiting at Durham Oktoberfest 2015
more
SPE Offshore Europe - Aberdeen - 8-11 September 2015
We are pleased to announce that attorneys from Secerna will be attending SPE Offshore Europe - Aberdeen
more
Bionow Life Science and Healthcare Showcase Conference - Tuesday 7th July, Newcastle
We are pleased to announce that Charlotte Watkins from Secerna will be attending the Bionow Life Science and Healthcare Showcase Conference in Newcastle on 7th July 2015.
more
BIO International Convention, Philadelphia, June 2015
We are pleased to announce that attorneys from Secerna will be attending the BIO International Convention in Philadelphia in June 2015.
more
Recent Decision confirms the Assessment of Added Matter
In a recent decision issued by a Technical Board of Appeal at the European Patent Office (EPO), the strict approach the EPO applies to analysis of added matter was re-confirmed.
more
2015 BioSynergy Conference
We are pleased to announce that Secerna will be sponsoring the 2015 BioSynergy Conference to be held at the Lakeside Conference Centre, Sand Hutton, York.
more
CJEU: Covalent binding of active ingredients does not preclude grant of SPCs
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) recently considered whether a carrier protein covalently conjugated to the active ingredients of a vaccine could itself be protected by a Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC).
more
Repeated pain but no gain for Warner-Lambert
A recent UK Patents Court decision has focused on the extent to which generics manufacturers can avoid injunctions by taking positive steps in support of a “skinny label”, as well as providing some useful guidance on the interpretation of “Swiss type” medical use claims.
more
Recent ECJ Decision to boost stem cell research in Europe
Stem cell research companies and organisations will welcome a recent decision from the European Court of Justice (CJEU) which has extended the scope of patentability in the field of stem cell research.
more
US Functional Biotech Claims – Vulnerable to Invalidity?
US Court warns that functional biotech claims are “vulnerable to invalidity”
more
Two Recent EPO Board of Appeal Decisions
It is often argued that salt and polymorph screening during pharmaceutical drug development is now so routine that any resultant salts and polymorphs must be obvious from a patent perspective.
more
Changes to Rule 164 EPC - Good news for Applicants
A procedural Rule of the European Patent Office (EPO) that often puts patent applicants, particularly from outside Europe, at a costly disadvantage is due to be amended in November 2014. From 1 November 2014, applicants will be able to request additional searches to be carried out following a finding of non-unity by the EPO’s Search Division.
more
Secerna LLP Expands its Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Team
Secerna is delighted to announce the arrival of Hazel Robson to our team. Hazel joins our chemistry and pharmaceutical team and will also support our life sciences team.
more
BIO International Convention, San Diego, June 2014
We are pleased to announce that attorneys from Secerna will be attending the BIO International Convention in San Diego in June 2014.
more
Filing EP Divisional Patent Applications
EPO amends deadline for filing divisional patent applications.
more
Venturefest York 2014
Secerna is proud to announce that they will be supporting Venturefest 2014 in York on 13 March 2014.
more
Secerna LLP Further Strengthens its ICT Team
Secerna is delighted to announce the arrival of Dan Mercer to our team.
more
