This week on MIP: Nokia-Oppo latest, UPC transparency

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This week on MIP: Nokia-Oppo latest, UPC transparency

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We provide a rundown of Managing IP’s news and analysis coverage from the week, and review what’s been happening elsewhere in IP

Nokia agrees to India setting global FRAND terms in Oppo suit

Nokia has agreed that the Delhi High Court should set global licence rates for its standard-essential patents and will give up UK litigation if Oppo withdraws its case in China, in the latest twist in the multijurisdictional dispute.

The news means India could be where the pair finally resolve their global dispute, which has been heard in courts in the UK, Europe, and China.

Click here to read the full story.

Former USPTO head eyes Section 101 focus after starting new firm

Subject matter eligibility issues and drafting suggested legislation for clients will be among the key focuses of a new law firm set up by a former USPTO acting director.

Joseph Matal founded solo practice Clear IP in October, after having worked at Haynes Boone since 2020. He worked at the USPTO from 2017 to 2020 and served as acting director from June 2017 to February 2018.

Click here to read the full story.

UPC appeal judges to rule on transparency

The Unified Patent Court’s appellate division is set to rule on a case surrounding access to pleadings in what could be a decisive early test of transparency at the new court.

Ocado has filed an appeal at the UPC Court of Appeal against the Nordic-Baltic regional division’s decision to grant a member of the public access to its infringement claim against Autostore.

Click here to read the full story.

Other articles published by Managing IP this week include:

Weekly take: Firms must ensure they don’t drive out diverse lawyers

Five minutes with … Ben Buchanan, UKIPO

Funders: nothing scary about China-backed lawsuits targeting Samsung

UK at the UPC: inside Powell Gilbert’s early success

Elsewhere in IP

Irish hire

Pinsent Masons has hired patent litigator Maureen Daly to lead its intellectual property team in Dublin, the firm announced on Monday, November 13.

Daly joins from Irish firm Beauchamps, where she had been partner and head of technology and IP for 18 years.

“Maureen is a market leader in IP and data, and one of very few IP litigators in Ireland with a science degree and patent litigation experience,” said Ann Lalor, head of Pinsent Masons’ Dublin office.

Healthy patent win

A Delaware federal jury ordered oncology company Guardant Health to pay $83.4 million in damages for wilful patent infringement to TwinStrand Biosciences and the University of Washington on Tuesday, November 14.

The University of Washington owned the two patents at issue but had exclusively licensed them to TwinStrand Biosciences. Law firm Sterne Kessler advised the plaintiffs.

INTA president

INTA has elected Amazon's intellectual property chief Dana Northcott as its president and chair of the board of directors, the lobby group announced on Tuesday, November 14.

Northcott, who is vice president and associate general counsel at Amazon, will take up the post on January 1.

She succeeds Jomarie Fredericks, chief IP and brand counsel at Rotary International.

GI go

A new EU geographical indications (GI) law took effect yesterday, November 16, extending protection to craft and industrial products.

Industry bodies can apply for registration at the EUIPO from December 1, 2025.

GIs previously only applied to food and drink products but could now cover products including Donegal tweed and porcelaine de Limoges.

Design patent bar

The USPTO published a final rule to create a separate design patent bar yesterday, November 16.

Those with degrees in industrial design, product design, architecture, applied arts, graphic design, fine or studio arts or art teacher education can now qualify to practise in design patent matters before the USPTO.

Eligible candidates must also take and pass the registration examination.

The rule takes effect on January 2, 2024.

That's it for today, see you again next week.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Aparna Watal, head of trademarks at Halfords IP, discusses why lawyers must take a stand when advising clients and how she balances work, motherhood and mentoring
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The platform’s proactive intellectual property enforcement helps brands spot and kill fakes, so they can focus on growth. Managing IP learns more about the programme
Hire of José María del Valle Escalante to lead the firm’s operations in ‘dynamic’ Catalonia and Aragon regions follows last month’s appointment of a new chief information officer
The London elite have dominated IP litigation wins for the past 10 years, but a recent bombshell AI case could change all that
Two New Hampshire IP boutiques will soon merge to form Secant IP, seeking to scale patent strength while keeping a lean cost model
While the firm lost several litigators this month, Winston & Strawn is betting that its transatlantic merger will strengthen its IP practice
In other news, Ericsson sought a declaratory judgment against Acer and Netflix filed a cease-and-desist letter against ByteDance over AI misuse
As trade secret filings rise due to AI development and economic espionage concerns, firms are relying on proactive counselling to help clients navigate disputes
IP firm leaders share why they remain positive in the face of falling patent applications from US filers, and how they are meeting a rising demand from China
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