EU Action Plan on IP – the challenge ahead

30 March, 2021
Herbert Smith Freehills' European IP team have had a feature article on the EU's IP Action Plan published in the April edition of PLC Magazine – see EU Action Plan on IP – the challenge ahead here. The article looks at the current challenges for the EU in relation to IP, its key focus areas and plans for future regulation and legislation, including: • The Unified Patent Court (UPC) • Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs) • Compulsory licensing • Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) • AI and emerging technologies • Counterfeiting • Designs • Geographical Indications • Data • The Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe Read more

Enforcement of intellectual property rights across online platforms

25 January, 2021
Considering how to enforce your IP rights online and make maximum use of the take-down procedures? Read Victoria Horsey, Joanna Silver and Sabesh Asokan’s practical tips in their practice notes, recently updated and published in Practical Law: • Enforcement of intellectual property rights across online platforms: injunctions A checklist on the circumstances in which a … Read more

The Trade and Cooperation Agreement and its impact on IP, Pharma and Medical Devices

11 January, 2021
The final Brexit agreement, the Trade and Cooperation Agreement was agreed between the UK and the EU on 24 December 2020. Within this agreement are provisions that set out the standards expected to be recognised (mutually) between the EU and the UK in relation to intellectual property (including SPCs and trade secrets). There are some provisions concerning pharmaceutical regulation and product standards, but overall there is a lack of mutual recognition, with the consequence that, for both pharmaceuticals and medical devices, there are now effectively two separate regimes for the EU and the UK. Read more

UKIPO launches ‘AI and IP Call for Views’

18 September, 2020
The UK Intellectual Property Office has published its call for views on artificial intelligence (‘AI’) and intellectual property (‘IP’). The IPO is interested in understanding the implications that AI might have for IP policy, and vice versa, in the near to medium future. To respond, email AIcallforviews@ipo.gov.uk before 11:45 pm on 30 November 2020. Overview … Read more

Herbert Smith Freehills’ IP Podcasts – Episode 5: Collaborating with Third Parties – IP Considerations

04 May, 2020
Collaborating with a third party can bring with it numerous benefits. Parties can work to their own strengths, share experience, and venture into new markets or territories, while sharing costs and risks. However, there are a multitude of legal considerations which need to be considered, both at the outset and as the collaboration progresses. In episode 5 of our podcast series, Joel Smith and Jessica Welborn discuss some of the key IP considerations surrounding collaboration agreements.  Read more

COVID-19: Pressure Points: Supply Chain Difficulties – new global guide, including IP, advertising and collaboration issues

30 April, 2020
Herbert Smith Freehills has published a new global guide on supply chain difficulties arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions and solutions. Supply chain difficulties are at the heart of the pressures facing businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. In our latest guide we look at supply chain pressure points and what is being and … Read more