PATENTS, TRADE MARKS AND DESIGNS
WE HELP INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES OF ALL shapes and SIZES
Schlich is a unique team of European Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys based in the South of England. Since 2004, we’ve helped our clients acquire, and defend, their IP assets, helping them to build and grow successful businesses based on their IP assets.
We draft and file patent applications, get them granted and enforce them. We also prepare and file trade mark applications and prosecute them to registration.
To enforce our clients’ rights, we also represent them in court and other inter partes proceedings (and, where necessary, attack and remove competitors’ rights).
Recent Insights
Read the latest news and briefings from the team at Schlich about real cases involving patents, trade marks and designs.
EPO Oppositions can be Limited to Certain Claims
The Board of Appeal have confirmed that an opposition filed against certain claims only is not an opposition against the claims as a whole, and the Opposition Division has no power to extend the opposition to unopposed claims.
The right to likeness in China: a clearer picture
The Supreme People’s Court of China has recently published a list of important cases concerning the protection of personality rights under the Civil Code of China. The Supreme People’s Court’s endorsement of a particular case on that list provides greater clarity regarding the circumstances under which silhouettes may qualify for protection under the right to likeness provisions of this aspect of Chinese law.
Cadbury Makes Purple Progress
In this long-running battle between Cadbury and Nestle, the former has not been successful in defending its trade marks for Pantone 2685C (their signature purple). However, in the UK High Court, there appears to have been some progress for Cadbury.
The EPO’s description amendment debate is over… for now
The EPO has recently issued a press release confirming there is legal basis in the EPC for its longstanding practice to require an Applicant of a European patent application to amend the description to bring this into conformity with the allowed claims.
Amicus Brief in Referrals G1/22 and G2/22: “Entitlement to Priority”
In the Priority Referrals before the EPO Enlarged Board of Appeal, the Schlich Amicus Curiae has been filed. It is conveniently reproduced here …
Updates to Canadian Patent Rules
Updates to the Canadian Patent Rules are coming later this year. The two most notable changes are the introductions of excess claims fees and a Request for Continued Examination system.
A New European Court to Administer an EU Patent
There has long been a desire for patent rights to be pan-European. Now the Unitary Patent System has been built and is scheduled to begin operation at the end of 2022 or the beginning of 2023. Such a new International system requires a new judicial organisation to govern it. This is the Unified Patent Court (UPC). European patents will be governed by the UPC by default. Therefore if a patentee wants to deviate from this, and ensure their patents are governed by national law, then action must be taken soon.
Unitary patents are coming – are they right for you?
With the Unitary Patent System due to start in the near future, it is important for applicants of European patent applications to consider whether to validate their European patents classically or, where possible, with unitary effect across the Unitary Patent System Member States. Here we provide a summary of the main advantages and disadvantages of unitary patents to help you decide whether unitary patents are right for you and how best to use this new option.
EXCELLENCE IN PATENT AND TRADE MARK LAW
The Schlich Team
Our clients expect and receive a responsive, friendly, high quality and great value service thanks to our experienced professionals. Our UK and European Patent Attorneys and Chartered Trade Mark Attorneys have a broad range of scientific and technical degrees and Ph.Ds from top UK Universities, and have decades of experience advising at cutting edge of legal and commercial issues and technologies.
We build on our deep experience of prosecution and inter partes proceedings to give the best strategic and practical advice, and to secure the best patent and trade mark protection for our clients’ innovations. Our team does this efficiently, and in a friendly and clear manner, supported by a wider team of highly skilled and experienced legal support staff.
Latest Firm News
IAM1000 lists Schlich as a recommended firm
Schlich has once again been listed as a firm to be “recommended” by the IAM1000 and will appear in the directory for 2022-2023.
Improving Power Transmission Using Capacitance
Enertechnos designs highly efficient power transmission cables using its revolutionary Capacitive Transfer System. An important feature of these cables is that capacitance is distributed along their lengths, which minimises power loss.
Juliette Boynton is Schlich’s Newest Associate
We would like to congratulate Juliette Boynton in becoming our newest Associate here at Schlich! With this well-deserved promotion, Juliette joins our existing Associates: Andrew Clements and Alex Bajjon.
