Latest Managing Patents News

• USPTO execs address America Invents Act concerns

  Small entity discounts, overall fee increases and the feasibility of 12-month invalidity trials topped the agenda at yesterday’s virtual town hall meeting held by the USPTO

• EU leaders call for copyright reform

  Twelve heads of government have called for urgent action to reform copyright in a letter to EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso

• Why the CJEU is getting busier and busier

  More cases than ever were brought before Europe’s Court of Justice last year. Does that signal confidence of users or the over-complication of European law? Managing IP reports

• Third-party art, supplemental exam debated at USPTO roadshow

  Attendees of the USPTO’s first roadshow on implementation of the America Invents Act expressed concerns about supplemental examination and pre-issuance submissions of prior art, among other topics

• This week’s IP news quiz – February 13-17

  How closely have you been following this week’s IP news? Test your knowledge with five, quick questions

• Stoll warns over USPTO funding

  Former USPTO commissioner for patents Bob Stoll told patent practitioners Thursday that “we’re taking a calculated risk” implementing the America Invents Act provisions without a guarantee of full funding for the Office

• Behind the scenes at the Patents Court

  An electric car, lunch at the Inn and excitement at the Applications Court - a day in the life of England & Wales High Court judge Mr Justice Arnold

• What would an independent Scotland mean for IP?

  The people of Scotland could vote to become independent in 2014. Managing IP investigates what such a move mean for IP owners

Australia patents

• Innovation patents – enjoy them while they last

  An attorney who drafted two innovation patents that his client last week successfully defended in the Australian High Court has urged IP owners to make more use of the system – before it is too late

• Australia to review innovation patents

  The Australian government has launched a review of the country’s innovation patent system, 10 years after it came into effect

• Australia set to raise the bar for patents

  Reforms planned in Australia aim to improve the patent system and harmonise it with international standards

• Australia considers new definition of invention

  An Australian government committee has recommended updating the country’s Patent Act to change the definition of patentable subject matter

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UK patent box

• UK patent box consultation closes

  The UK government has concluded its consultation on a proposed patent box, which it hopes will encourage investment and economic growth and prevent innovative businesses moving intellectual property offshore

• Patent box raises questions for business

  The UK government wants to hear what businesses think about its patent box taxation regime, a senior official said today.

• British business welcomes patent box changes

  Business has responded favourably to consultation documents published by the UK government on plans to introduce a patent box and reform R&D tax credits

• UK’s patent incentive leads to GSK investment

  GlaxoSmithKline will invest more than £500 million in the UK, after the government confirmed it would provide a tax incentive for patents

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India patent developments

• EU-India negotiations prompt patent protests

  The latest round of negotations between the EU and India over a free-trade agreement was disrupted by protests over the way the IP clauses in the deal could affect access to medicines in developing countries

• First compulsory licence application in India

  Indian generic drug maker Natco has filed a compulsory licence application for the patent covering German pharma company Bayer’s anti-cancer drug Nexavar

• Head of India’s IP office resigns

  P H Kurian, the reforming head of India’s IP office, has resigned after completing less than half of his five-year term

• Practitioners back utility model patents for India

  A government consultation paper on introducing a system of utility model patents in India has been welcomed by patent practitioners, who believe it will help to stimulate domestic innovation

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