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This site contains general information concerning Intellectual Property matters and whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, no responsibility can be taken by WP Thompson for any errors or omissions however caused, nor for any problems that might be experienced due to, or subsequent to, access to the site. Should you require specific advice on any matter of Intellectual Property Law please contact WP Thompson directly.
WP Thompson is the trading style of WP Thompson Limited, a company registered in England under number 08794195 with a registered address at 1 Mann Island, Liverpool L3 1BP. The company is registered as Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, and is regulated by the Intellectual Property Regulation Board. www.ipreg.org.uk
References on this website to a "Partner" refer to a director of WP Thompson Limited.
WP Thompson and WPT are trade marks of WP Thompson Limited.
What's happening in IP
See all news15.02.2024
The EPO is due to increase its fees on 1st April, 2024. There are some large increases planned in relation to renewal fees, particularly the third- and fourth-year renewal fees that are to increase by approximately 30%.
Full story29.01.2024
High growth businesses, despite experiencing rapid expansion in terms of revenue, profits, and market capitalization, often possess few tangible assets. However, they frequently own intangible assets, such as goodwill, brands, digital assets, intellectual property (IP), and know-how.
To continue to grow, these high growth businesses must consider ways to finance their expansion. Unlike tangible assets, it is difficult to value these intangible assets because they have no physical shape or form. The question is, how do these ‘tangible asset poor’ businesses raise funding via traditional methods such as bank loans?
Full story23.01.2024
On 15 January 2024 the validation agreement between the European Patent Organisation (EPO) and Georgia entered into force. Georgia now joins the four other non-EPO member states Morocco, Republic of Moldova, Tunisia, and Cambodia to become one of the “Validation States” of the EPO.
With the current agreement’s entry into force and the extension agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina, the number of countries for which patent protection can be obtained on the basis of a single European patent application rises to 45. Applicants can now effectively obtain patent protection in Georgia using the same procedure before the EPO as for obtaining national patents in the 39 member states.
Full story29.12.2023
Artificial Intelligence
In a long-running dispute centred around whether DABUS, an Artificial Intelligence(AI)-based creativity machine, can be named as an inventor of two GB patents, the UK Supreme Court finally issued the long-awaited decision. Dr Stephen Thaler, the creator and owner of DABUS has ultimately failed in his landmark bid to register two GB patent applications protecting inventions created by DABUS, specifically naming the machine as inventor. The Supreme Court has ruled that while AI machines may have the ability to generate work, these machines are not inventors within the meaning of the 1977 Act.
Full story
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