A periodical review on developments in European and Asian patent
law & practice
Over the past 2 years, Bird &
Bird has further strengthened the depth and breadth of its patent litigation
practice.
Our patent litigation teams in
Belgium, England, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Spain and Sweden continue to
thrive. In Central and Eastern Europe, we now have patent litigation
capabilities in Finland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland. In Asia,
the firm's IP litigation practice is centred on China (Hong Kong, Beijing and
Shanghai) and Singapore but we continue to service IP litigation in the SE Asia
region from those hubs. The Chinese patent litigation capability was
further strengthened when the Hong Kong office entered into an association with
the Chinese (domestic) firm Xiang Kun. Through this association, we can
now undertake advocacy in the Chinese courts.
In recognition of the strength
and depth of the firm's patent litigation practice, earlier this year the
international Intellectual Property group were proud to receive the titles
"Patent Firm of the Year" and "Life Sciences Firm of the Year" from Who's Who
Legal and the Managing IP Global Award for "Patent Firm of the Year" for Europe.
In addition the guide IAM Patent Litigation 250: The Worlds Leading patent
Litigators (Europe and Asia) identified more leading individual lawyers from
Bird & Bird than any other firm.
In this update, the features from
Germany on pre-action inspection and France on costs awards illustrate the
continuing impact of the IP Enforcement Directive on patent practice in Europe.
For England, we look in particular at the third rebirth of the Patents County
Court under the auspices of HH Judge Birss and as always provide our commentary
on the recent decisions on infringement and validity made by the English courts.
We have also provided a brief summary of the latest developments on the
Community Patent project. Finally, we have highlighted three recent
decisions emanating from the US Supreme Court concerned respectively with
inducement to infringe, ownership of federally funded inventions and the
standard of proof applicable to an invalidity attack on a US patent.
Upcoming Event
The IP group is intending
to host its biannual Patent Litigation Seminar in
London on Thursday
24th November. The
seminar will address the trends emerging from the
decisions emanating from Europe's
patent litigation courts over the last
two years as well as the latest procedural developments both in
the UK as well the rest of Europe.
If you're interested in attending this seminar please contact
karla.fryer@twobirds.com.
Contents
To view the Update in full please
click here.
Contact Us
The content of this update is of general interest and is not
intended to apply to specific circumstances. The content should
not, therefore, be regarded as constituting legal advice and
should not be relied on as such. In relation to any particular
problem which they may have, readers are advised to seek
specific advice. Further, the law may have changed since first
publication and the reader is cautioned accordingly.
BIRD & BIRD
Bird & Bird is an international legal
practice comprising Bird & Bird LLP and its affiliated and
associated businesses. Bird & Bird LLP is a limited liability
partnership, registered in England and Wales with registered
number OC340318 and is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation
Authority. Its registered office and principal place of business
is at 15 Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1JP.
For details of
Bird & Bird, our offices, our members, the use of e-mail and
regulatory information, please see
twobirds.com and, in particular,
twobirds.com/english/Legal_Notices.cfm.
The word
"partner" is used to refer to a member of Bird & Bird LLP or an
employee or consultant, or to a partner, member, director,
employee or consultant in any of its affiliated businesses, who
has equivalent standing and qualifications. A list of members of
Bird & Bird LLP and of any non-members who are designated as
partners, and of their respective professional qualifications,
is open to inspection at our London office address.
All
such persons are solicitors, registered foreign lawyers or
non-registered European lawyers.