Europe’s top patent filers The EPO’s annual report reveals the top patent filers in Europe in 2017. Managing IP analyses the most interesting filing trends, including a 5.8% increase in patent applications from the US and 16.6% growth from China
Patent enforcement in Europe Managing IP asks in-house counsel how they decide when to enforce their patent portfolios
Analysing blockchain patent trends Johan Ståhlberg and Isabel Cantallops Fiol of Valea AB consider developments in the field of blockchain patents, examining the number of blockchain patents applied for and granted in various jurisdictions and fields
Assessing the EPO’s Early Certainty initiatives Cristina Biggi of Bugnion evaluates the European Patent Office’s implementation of Early Certainty at the examination and opposition stages
Russia reveals a new approach to parallel imports Evgeny Alexandrov of Gorodissky examines Russia’s evolving attitude to parallel imports and a Constitutional Court case which further altered and developed this area of the law
SPCs in Switzerland Siegfried Grimm of E Blum analyses the Swiss approach to SPCs and compares it with the EU’s stance in this area. He advocates against a “consistent” approach to these two systems, as often applied by applicants
The Harmonisation Directive brings change to Romania’s trade mark landscape Raluca Vasilescu of Cabinet M Oproiu examines the Harmonisation Directive, detailing the changes it will bring about and evaluating how easy it will be to implement it into national law
How do changes to Canada’s IP law affect European right holders? Canadian IP laws are undergoing significant change. Philip Lapin and David Schwartz of Smart & Biggar evaluate how these changes are most likely to affect European IP owners
Protecting non–traditional trade marks Ana-Maria Baciu and Andreea Bende of NNDKP examine the protection of unconventional trade marks, evaluating cases concerning a range of marks including those connected to motion, pattern and sound
How will Brexit affect IP in the UK? Jennifer Good of HGF analyses the effect Brexit will have on IP in the UK, examining what has already been agreed and areas in which more clarity is needed
Changes to Greece’s IP system since the crisis Eleni Lappa of IP Work analyses the positive amendments to the Greek IP system since the onset of the Greek crisis
