The Unified Patent Court (UPC) of the European Union is scheduled to start operation on April 1, 2023.

The UPC Preparatory team is excited to share the implementation roadmap attached. This roadmap depicts all the key activities and milestones of the UPC in the coming months.

The entry into force of the UPC Agreement is currently planned for 1 April 2023, with the Court opening its doors and starting to receive cases as from that date.

Latest state of play in view of the launch of the Unified Patent Court

Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) determines that artificial intelligence (AI) cannot be the patent inventor.

The issue of AI invention has always been controversial. Recently, KIPO decided to invalidate the patent application for AI invention on the ground that “Artificial intelligence of non natural persons is not allowed to be the inventor of patent applications”.

Artificial intelligence cannot be an inventor patent application declared invalid

New Zealand Intellectual Property Office (IPONZ) has recently updated Trade Mark Practice Guidelines.

IPONZ has updated Trade Mark Practice Guidelines on “Overcoming a Citation” to consider the prior use of trademarks. IPONZ examiner will currently consider submissions and evidence relating to prior use when determining whether special circumstances exist in relation to a trade mark application. This supersedes an earlier practice where examiners would not consider submissions that attempt to prove prior use.

Update to Trade Mark Practice Guidelines

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