World IP Day 26th April – A look back at the first granted Patents and Trade Marks

As we recently celebrated World Intellectual Property Day, we thought we might investigate the background to the first granted patents and registered trade marks. Patent Firsts UK patent law applied in Ireland until the formation of the Irish Free State in 1921. It was not until the Industrial and Commercial Property (Protection) Act 1927 that [...]

2022-01-10T14:37:05+00:00April 28th, 2014|Publications|

Don’t part company with your name !

Registering your company name, trading name or domain name doesn’t give the same protection as a Trade Mark registration! Have you noticed many companies with the same or similar names? There are several Station House Hotels in Ireland (Clifden, Letterkenny and Kilmessan in Meath) yet they are all independently trading. By registering your brand name [...]

2020-10-22T14:30:50+00:00April 25th, 2014|Publications|

It’s not just a slogan.

During the course of a business meeting held in our offices recently, it became apparent that there was some confusion in relation to the registrability of slogans/taglines as trade marks.  Surprise was expressed at the fact that slogans can in fact be protected as trade marks and that many well known slogans are so registered. [...]

2020-10-22T14:43:02+00:00March 20th, 2014|Publications|

Trade Mark Trip–Ups!

In this article we look at a couple of mistakes brand owners sometimes make when adopting a new trade mark. Failure to search All too often stories hit the headlines of companies adopting trade marks, spending thousands of Euros on packaging, publicity materials and marketing, only to have to re-brand when challenged by the owner [...]

2020-10-22T14:59:02+00:00November 28th, 2013|Publications|

Patent Pitfalls

Before embarking on a new business venture, there are some pitfalls in IP that are avoidable with the right advice. These include:- •Publicly disclosing an innovation before filing a patent application: Making an innovation “available to the public” by launching the product, engaging in any form of non-confidential disclosure e.g. publishing details of the innovation [...]

2020-10-22T14:57:38+00:00November 28th, 2013|Publications|

How much does a patent cost

If you would like an estimate of the costs for protecting your idea with a patent then please don't hesitate to contact us by phone 01-6763465, by email mail@maclachlan.ie or by using our online Contact form.

2020-10-23T13:54:46+00:00August 14th, 2013|Publications|

Enforcing European Patents in Ireland

1.  What are the most effective ways for the owner of an Irish Patent derived from a European Patent to enforce its rights in Ireland? Enforcement of a European patent in Ireland is available only by petition to the High Court in civil proceedings. Infringement proceedings are handled by the Chancery Division of the High [...]

2020-10-23T14:44:27+00:00May 13th, 2013|Publications|

The Patentability of Computer Implemented Inventions

A large number of patent applications are filed at the European Patent Office (EPO) for computer implemented inventions – a term defined by the EPO to be “an invention that works by using a computer, a computer network or other programmable apparatus and that to qualify [as a computer implemented invention], the invention also needs [...]

2020-10-27T11:19:42+00:00May 7th, 2013|Publications|

What constitutes genuine use of a Community Trade Mark?

Once a Community Trade Mark (CTM) has been registered for an initial period of five years, the registration may be challenged on the ground that the trade mark has not been put to genuine use within the European Community during a continuous period of five years. In the event of such a challenge, the CTM [...]

2022-01-10T14:37:36+00:00May 6th, 2013|Publications|
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