AWA Point
The Unitary Patent takes an (inventive) step towards grant
By Love Koči | Posted on November 26, 2015
The Unitary Patent provides a new way for innovators and companies to protect their intellectual property in the EU. Currently, European patents are granted centrally by the European Patent Office (EPO), but result in a bundle of national patents which must be enforced on a country-by-country basis. In contrast, the Unitary Patent means that a...
Tags: EPO, renewal fee, unitary patent, UP
Copycats in China: The canary in the coalmine for foreign companies?
By Ai-Leen Lim | Posted on November 16, 2015
The recent media report concerning the “fake” Goldman Sachs in China has sparked another series of stories about counterfeits in China… but has it sparked a call to action yet? Throwbacks to the bogus Apple stores and the concocted IKEA shops both found in Kunming in 2011 come to mind. Whilst foreign companies are amazed...
Tougher measures on advertising in China (wef 1 September 2015): Caveat Vendor
By Ai-Leen Lim | Posted on November 10, 2015
The recent case of smart phone maker Xiaomi coming under investigation for misleading consumers through false advertising, is a cautionary tale for companies seeking to promote their products and services in China. The company was caught by the New Advertising Law in China, enacted on 1st September 2015, which clamps down on fictitious advertising. By...
Tags: AIC, anti-puffery, Caveat Vendor
Crowdsourcing or a maker – do you need to care about IP?
By AWA | Posted on October 30, 2015
In recent year’s crowdsourcing, i.e. inviting a community to take part in developing a new product or service has become increasingly popular. The instant feedback from the community allows for a rapid and agile development process, where everyone taking part in the development can feel great pride in the finished product. Simultaneously a movement called...
Unified Patent Court – one step closer to opening the Court
By AWA | Posted on October 26, 2015
On October 1 2015, a Protocol to the UPC Agreement was signed by first seven member states . It is open for signing by the remaining Signatory States of the UPC Agreement from this date. The aim of the Protocol is to allow for some provisions of the UPC Agreement to be applied early, i.e....
Tags: European patents, Patent, SPC, Supplementary Protection Certificates, unified patent court, UPC
Italy joins the unitary patent!
By Troels Peter Rørdam | Posted on October 22, 2015
On 30 September 2015, Italy joined the unitary patent. Italy will thus form part of both the unitary patent and the Unified Patent Court (UPC) upon entry into force. So reports the Commission of the EU here. Italy is the country in which the fourth largest number of European patents is validated. The Italian decision...
Tags: unified patent court, UPC
Global Innovation Index 2015: Switzerland, UK and Sweden at the top
By Love Koči | Posted on October 22, 2015
The recently issued Global Innovation Index (GII), which is co-published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Cornell University and INSEAD Business School, ranks the innovation performance of 141 countries and economies around the world based on 79 indicators. Published annually since 2007, the GII is used as a tool for policymakers, business leaders and...
Tags: GII, Global Innovation Index, WIPO
European patents can now be validated in Moldova
By Troels Peter Rørdam | Posted on October 15, 2015
On 1 November 2015 an agreement between the European Patent Office (EPO) and the State Agency on Intellectual Property of the Republic of Moldova allowing European patents to take legal effect in Moldova will enter in to force. Thereby, applicants with a European patent application will after this date be able to validate their granted...
Controversy behind Ms. Tu Youyou, the first Chinese female Noble Prize winner in Physiology or Medicine
By Linlin Zheng | Posted on October 9, 2015
The 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was announced on 5 October. It was rewarded with one half to Tu Youyou “for her discoveries concerning a novel therapy against Malaria” and the other half jointly to William C. Campbell and Satoshi Omura. “Chinese people wish to win Nobel Prize for long time,” said Professor...
Tags: artemisinin, Satoshi Omura, The 2015 Nobel Prize, Tu Youyou, William C. Campbell, WIPO
Can innovative clean tech companies save the world…and still be profitable?
By AWA | Posted on September 10, 2015
Well, as we all know, innovation and research and development usually cost a lot of money, and the simplest incentive for innovations is often to earn more, or alternatively to save, money. Facing the threat of global warming, i.e. climate change, many new ideas have developed to make us less dependent on fossil fuels, to...
Tags: Clean tech, global warming, IPR, Patent
Recent contributors
Partner, Attorney at Law, Business Area Manager
Partner, European Patent Attorney
Senior Counsel, European Patent Attorney
Counsel, AU and NZ Patent Attorney
Senior Associate, China Patent Attorney
Senior Associate, Attorney at Law