Inquiries as to Damages: A New Commonplace

Inquiries as to Damages: A New Commonplace

Prior to the 2010-2013 reforms undertaken at the former Patent County Court (PCC), now the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC), the numbers of inquiries into damages were relatively low, partly due to the length of court actions and partly due to cost....
The End of Disclosure Orders for Obviousness Cases?

The End of Disclosure Orders for Obviousness Cases?

Background Positec are a company wishing to sell robotic lawnmowers in the UK. They are seeking a declaration of non-infringement and revocation through the High Court of Husqvarna’s patent (EP 1512053), which relates to a method for operating an automatic...
Do Patent Assignments Require Consideration?

Do Patent Assignments Require Consideration?

Consideration is generally held to be something of value exchanged between parties in order for a contract to be valid and enforceable. Agreements without consideration are deemed to be mere gratuitous promises and are not enforceable by law. As a standard term, most...
Generics (UK) Limited and Actavis v Warner-Lambert

Generics (UK) Limited and Actavis v Warner-Lambert

Warner-Lambert is proprietor of a European patent (EP 0641330) which claims the compound pregabalin (via compound per se claims). The Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC) was (surprisingly) allowed to lapse in October 2013 for non-payment of fees resulting in...