Welcome to Greenshoots
Greenshoots is a collection of fresh intellectual property insight, analysis and commentary on the issues that matter most to those who invent, manage and protect intellectual property, written by the IP specialists of Appleyard Lees.
Now that you’re here, why not take a look around?

The Greenshoots Podcast by Appleyard Lees – episode 27 – Patent oppositions and appeals at the EPO in 2022
Appleyard Lees partners and patent attorneys Bobby Smithson and Jennifer Delaney give their outlook on patent oppositions and appeals at the EPO in 2022.

Will Unitary Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs) follow the introduction of the Unitary Patent (UP) and the Unified Patent Court (UPC)?
SPCs are national rights that apply to certain pharmaceutical and plant protection products that have been authorized for use by the regulatory authorities. Will they follow the introduction of the UP/UPC?

The Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court: what do non-European attorneys, and their clients, need to know?
What could the introduction of the UP and UPC mean for non-European attorneys, and their European patent-holding clients? Watch the recording of our recent virtual UP/UPC workshop to find out more.

Inside green innovation: the digital technologies addressing climate change
How is AI supporting innovation in green technologies?

Can you patent digital assistant technology?
In this article, we look at a patent application for virtual assistant technology, and provide advice on whether this sort of software-based innovation is patentable.

The Greenshoots Podcast by Appleyard Lees – episode 26 – Mediation: an alternative to litigation?
Appleyard Lees partners and solicitors Bill Lister and Chris Hoole discuss the benefits of mediation vs. court proceedings, and how mediation in intellectual property cases can differ to non-intellectual property cases.

Delaying grant of a European Patent to obtain a Unitary Patent
With 1 October 2022 being the possible start date of the Unitary Patent system, applicants achieving allowance of their European patent applications in the coming months may wish to delay grant so as to obtain a Unitary Patent (UP).

Mediation – an alternative to litigation?
A number of Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”) strategies have been developed over the last few decades. They can provide cost-effective alternatives to court proceedings, and allow two parties to negotiate a settlement in a confidential environment.

Oh why…did the copyright claims against Ed Sheeran fail?
On 6 April 2022, after a high-stakes, eleven day trial, the High Court of England and Wales declared that Ed Sheeran, singer/songwriter, did not infringe copyright relating to the song “Oh Why” by Sami Chokri. The allegation that Ed Sheeran copied the catchy parts of “Oh Why” was therefore dismissed by the Court.