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.
David floors Goliath at the Patent Office
In terms of David and Goliath stories (or should that be Arya and Night King stories?) they don’t come much bigger than two recent patent application objections from television behemoth HBO (Home Box Office) against two UK companies it believed to be unfairly benefiting from its Game of Thrones brand.
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Making Ideas a Reality
In our latest blog Technical Assistant Daniel Pingstone takes a look at drawing inspiration from the entertainment world and what it can mean for your patents.
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Mathematical Methods – Revision to EPO Guidelines
The Guidelines for Examination at the European Patent Office have recently been revised in relation to mathematical methods (EPO GL 2018, G-II, sections 3.3 to 3.3.2).
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BioFocus Conference, 10 July 2019, Newcastle
We are pleased to announce that Charlotte Watkins and Huw Jenkins will be attending the BioFocus Conference in Newcastle on Wednesday 10 July.
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Supporting Early Adoption of Agri-Tech Innovations - 25 June 2019
We are pleased to announce that Huw Jenkins will be attending the Early Adoption of Agri-Tech Innovation workshop in Sheffield on Tuesday 25 June 2019.
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AIPPI World Congress 15 - 18 September 2019, Queen Elizabeth II Centre, London
We are pleased to announce that Jason Boakes will be attending the AIPPI Congress held in London.
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A Day In The Life
Charlotte Watkins is one of the founders of York-based intellectual property law firm, Secerna. She lives on the outskirts of York with her partner and co-founder, Jason, and their dog, Holly.
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Future of Energy Systems Masterclass
Digitalisation of the Energy Sector - Wednesday 5 June 2019, Teesside University, Darlington
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Spring Update on the Patenting of Plants
The patentability of plants has been a long running legal and political saga at the EPO. Following an intervention this month by the president of the EPO, it appears uncertainty in this area is set to continue for the foreseeable future.
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Shaping something new
Patent attorney Huw Jenkins tells us why he made the move from a career in academia to patent law and what makes the role so worthwhile.
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Future of Energy Systems Masterclass - Wednesday 27 March 2019, ORE Catapult, Blyth
We are pleased to announce that Sam Bloor will be speaking at the Future of Energy Systems Masterclass which is being held at the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult in Blyth.
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Double Trouble at the EPO
The Enlarged Board of Appeal has been asked to consider when a European patent application claiming priority from a patent application that has been granted can be refused because it claims the same subject-matter as the granted patent.
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Feeding an appetite for tech
Find out from trainee patent attorney Jonathan Roberts what a typical day looks like and what advice he’d give someone thinking about a career in IP law.
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A Formstein Defence in the UK: A Way to Fight Off Equivalents?
Technetix B.V. & Ors v Teleste Limited [2019] EWHC 126 (IPEC)
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Welcoming new trainees to the team
We have welcomed two new trainee patent attorneys to our team in York, bolstering the firm’s bioscience, physics and electronics expertise.
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Update on the patentability of plants
An EPO Board of Appeal has found that Article 53(b) EPC prevails over Rule 28(2) EPC as introduced by the Administrative Council of the EPO last year.
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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.
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Updates to the guidelines for examination of computer-implemented inventions in Europe
These new guidelines are in force from 1 November 2018.
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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
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Renewed thinking for patents in Wind, Wave and Tidal Energy
Secerna LLP provides legal insights on patents in the Renewable Energy Sector.
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Secerna LLP Expands its Life Sciences Team
Secerna is delighted to announce the arrival of Huw Jenkins to our team.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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SIPO Formalises Revisions to its Patent Examination Guidelines
These new guidelines were brought into effect as of 1 April 2017.
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All-Energy® 2017, Glasgow
Last week, Secerna LLP attended the All-Energy® 2017 conference in Glasgow.
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Unified Patent Court – December Launch Date?
New Unified Patent Court expected to launch in December 2017.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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SPE Offshore Europe - Aberdeen - 8-11 September 2015
We are pleased to announce that attorneys from Secerna will be attending SPE Offshore Europe - Aberdeen
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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US Functional Biotech Claims – Vulnerable to Invalidity?
US Court warns that functional biotech claims are “vulnerable to invalidity”
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Filing EP Divisional Patent Applications
EPO amends deadline for filing divisional patent applications.
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Secerna LLP Further Strengthens its ICT Team
Secerna is delighted to announce the arrival of Dan Mercer to our team.
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