Posts by Vicki Strachan

I get asked this question a lot, in various different forms: can patents be renewed indefinitely? Do patents expire? Why do patents expire? Can patents be revoked? So, let’s explore the question, can patents last indefinitely? Can patent last indefinitely? The simple answer to this is ‘no’, they can’t. The underlying theory behind a patent…

This might seem to be quite a simplistic title, but it’s a very frequently-asked question, and can mean one of a number of different things, depending on the context. In some cases, it might mean ‘What can a patent do for our business?’. In other cases, it might mean ‘What is the process for getting…

Patents give you the right to stop others from making/selling something it covers. So, if you’re innovating in a fast-paced tech environment, then patents may, in fact, be the only way you can stay ahead of your competitors, and stop them from profiting from your innovation. Steppingstones When we think about the fast-paced digital age,…

Do you know how to protect your software-based innovation against your competitors? Does the cost of patents put you off?  Do you worry that trade secrets may not be enough?  Can you use both?  Do you know the difference in terms of the protection they offer? Read on for our tips for protecting your software-based innovation,…

Just like every other area of law, patent law is full of terms that means very little in relation to our normal language, and it can be quite difficult to find alternative terms to describe these concepts without long, drawn-out explanations of the law it describes. One of those terms is the “priority date“. It…

Did you see Dragon’s Den last week? Paul Hurnon had designed a space-saving bathroom, and he had spent 23 years refining his design. He had filed a patent application in the early days, and had even secured a granted UK patent, BUT, by the time he got into the Den, the patent had expired. The…

Patents protect new products and processes, and a patent will give you the right to stop others from making, selling or importing/exporting something covered by the patent claims. But, how “inventive” does a product have to be to be patentable? Lets explore patents: how inventive must a product be? Requirements for Patentability To be patentable,…

Are you an innovative tech company that relies on R&D and product development to stay one step ahead of your competitors?  If so, it is likely that you are familiar with intellectual property rights, and how they can help you to protect your investment and market share.  But do you have a clear strategy for…

When innovators have an idea for a new product, they will often use the expertise that you, as a product developer or designer, have, to make sure that a marketable product is developed, tested and designed.  There is obviously a cost associated with that, so how can you help your client to protect their investment.?…

Many innovators and R&D teams understand and appreciate the value of patent searching, both as a design tool and to see what others in their field are up to.  Patent searching can help to identify what may be patentable about your own innovation, provide key insights into how others have tried to solve technical problems…