We are delighted to learn that we have been successful in assisting a Monaghan based fish and chip restaurant in defending an opposition at the Irish Patents Office by an international company against the local company's application to register a composite trade mark featuring the words The Monte Carlo and other graphic matter.  The international opponents [...]

On 19th February 2013, 22 member states of the European Union sealed the deal to create the court structure for the new Community Patent. Once the new Community Patent system begins, it will be possible for applicants to file a single application resulting in a patent extending to all countries of the European Union except [...]

The America Invents Act (AIA) entered into force on 16th March 2013.  This act replaces the “first-to-invent” system with a “first-inventor-to-file” system that is more consistent with the rest of the world.  It expands the definition of prior art used in determining patentability both geographically and in relation to publication date, eliminates interference proceedings and allows [...]