Oppositions, appeals and access to justice at the EPO post-lockdown

Appleyard Lees partners and patent attorneys Bobby Smithson, Jennifer Delaney and Howard Read lead a discussion on potential post-lockdown changes to oppositions and appeals at the European Patent Office (EPO), and how tactics for achieving desired outcomes are changing as a result. Our speakers also discussed: How will EPO oppositions likely be conducted post-lockdown? In-person v. ViCo | What […]

British Steel case study

 Successful defense of a monopoly, ensuring further proceedings were withdrawn.  Our client, British Steel, is a UK based manufacturer of high-quality steel products, exported worldwide.   The matter Having advised on British Steel’s IP previously, Appleyard Lees was approached by the company to handle the defence of one of their existing European patents at the […]

Weir Minerals case study

Successful defense of a monopoly for a multinational manufacturer of mining equipment.  Our client, WEIR Minerals (WEIR), is a multinational manufacturer of mine dewatering equipment, with an annual revenue of almost £2.7 billion.   The matter While the majority of WEIR’s end users are based in Asia and North and South America, many of their […]

Artificial intelligence and machine learning in healthcare

Artificial intelligence and machine learning in healthcare: An Intellectual Property Perspective Artificial intelligence (AI), particularly machine learning (ML), is already transforming transport, telecommunications and retail. Globally, the top ten patent applicants and proprietors for AI/ML related-inventions include Microsoft, IBM, Siemens, Google, Zongcheng Li, State Grid Corporation of China, Samsung, Qualcomm, Hitachi and Panasonic. AI and […]

Artificial intelligence and machine learning: sufficiency and plausibility

Computer-implemented inventions At the European Patent Office (EPO), examination of computer-implemented inventions (CIIs) is well-established. A CII is defined by the EPO as one which involves use of a computer, computer network or other programmable apparatus (generally, a computer), in which one or more features are realised wholly or partly by means of a computer […]