EPO to prepare minutes of oral proceedings held by videoconference with the assistance of AI

The European Patent Office (EPO) has announced in the April 2025 issue of the EPO Journal that from May 2025 a pilot will start for using artificial intelligence (AI) to draw up the minutes of oral proceedings. The pilot will apply to a limited number of oral proceedings held by videoconference before the examining and opposition divisions.

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EPO reaffirms stance towards using non-technical elements to assess the inventiveness of computer-implemented inventions (T 0279/21)

The Technical Board of Appeal of the EPO has issued a decision, T 0279/21, regarding the inventive step requirement in relation to computer-implemented inventions, and the importance of distinguishing between technical and non-technical contributions.

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Laos, the Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR), to become an EPO validation state

From 1 April 2025 it will be possible to validate European patent applications in Lao PDR. This will apply to European patent applications filed on or after 1 April 2025.

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UK

Slingsby Partners participates in IP Panel at the Materials Society at Imperial College London

Ruby Freeman was part of an IP Panel at Imperial College London, organised by the Materials Society.  The panel offered an opportunity for students in the Materials department to learn about a career in IP and to ask questions about entering the profession.  Topics discussed covered the routes to qualification, how to prepare for interviews, and the impact of AI on inventions.

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UK

UPC finds that it has jurisdiction to consider infringement in the UK

After the UK’s exit from the EU, the UK withdrew from participating in the Unified Patent Court (UPC) – this was consistent with the idea that the UK would no longer be affected EU laws or courts. However, a recent case at the Düsseldorf Local Division of the UPC has determined that the UPC has jurisdiction to hear a case of infringement action concerning the UK.

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UK

Updates to UKIPO AI Guidelines - 30 January 2025

The UKIPO have once again updated their guidance for examining patent applications relating to AI inventions following the recent Court of Appeal judgment in Emotional Perception AI Ltd v Comptroller-General of Patents [2024] EW

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UK

Emma Norris joins CIPA Committee

We are pleased to announce one of our Senior IP Paralegals has been elected to join the CIPA Paralegal Committee. Emma Norris was elected in January 2025 and will serve a 3 year term. The Committee delivers training and education for patent paralegals and is vital in continuing to promote the Patent Paralegals profession on behalf of CIPA.

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UK

Emotional Perception heads to the Supreme Court

Emotional Perception have been granted permission to appeal the recent Court of Appeal decision to the UK Supreme Court, in the latest development to the Emotional Perception vs Comptroller-General of Patents case. 

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How can you withdraw an opt-out at the UPC, despite national litigation having taken place?

The answers seems to be “as long as that national litigation commenced before the UPC sunrise period started“ and will mean that third parties could be at risk of UPC litigation for more patents than might have been expected. 

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New Trade Mark Director – Yvette Spring

Slingsby Partners are delighted to announce the arrival of Yvette Spring as a Director on the trade mark side of the business. Yvette has worked in the Intellectual Property field for over 30 years, with 25 of those years being in the UK, and has experience both in-house at Glaxo SmithKline and in private practice.

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