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The patent process in the UK (and most other countries) is relatively long (usually around 3 years), and there are various deadline-driven stages and procedures that need to be followed. To the uninitiated, this process can seem complex and laborious, so in this blog , we will look at what is involved in the patent…

I am often asked ‘are patents expensive?’  or ‘why do patents cost so much…?’. We tend to think of things as ‘expensive’ if we deem the cost to be more than the perceived value we receive in return. So, patents are really only ‘expensive’ if the true value of it is unknown and often hard…

This is another question I get asked a lot: are patents global? Is there a worldwide patent? Are patents worldwide? etc. The simple answer to these questions is ‘no’. The longer answer is that each country (or territory consisting of a number of countries) has its own patent system and, if you want protection in…

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,…

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…

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,…

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,…