On 13 March 2024, the European Parliament approved the EU's Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act. The text was agreed in negotiations with EU member states in December 2023 and has now been endorsed by members of the European Parliament. The new law aims to protect fundamental rights, democracy, the rule of law and...
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Kilian Müller joins INTA’s ADR Committee
We are proud to announce that our colleague Kilian Müller has become a member of the International Trademark Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Committee, serving for a two-year term as of 2024. The ADR Committee develops programming and resources on arbitration, mediation, online dispute resolution, and other methods of dispute...
US Patent Office – Guidance for AI Inventions
The US Patent and Trademark Office has issued a document to provide detailed guidance on inventorship in the context of AI-assisted inventions. The guidance clearly states that inventions created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) are not categorically unpatentable, but the document emphasizes that even if AI plays a...
Fee Reductions at European Patent Office for Small Entities
The European Patent Office has announced a new fee reduction scheme, specifically designed for micro-entities, effective April 1, 2024. This scheme aims to support smaller and less experienced entities in Europe by easing access to the European patent system. It introduces a 30% fee reduction for various patent-related fees for...
European Patent Office – Fee Increases
The European Patent Office has announced a series of fee increases from 1 April that are set to impact various stages of the patent application and maintenance process. These adjustments are part of the EPO's regular review to ensure that the office remains financially self-sustaining, while also investing in improving...
Unified Patent Court – Update January 2024
UPC – Case Load – Update Since its inception in June 2023, the Unified Patent Court (UPC) has been actively engaged in handling a variety of cases, showcasing a significant workload that underscores its importance in the field of intellectual property law. The latest update shows that the UPC has...
EPO – Acceleration of Oppositions
The European Patent Office (EPO) announced on 7 November 2023 a new policy concerning accelerated processing of oppositions where an infringement or revocation action has been instituted before the Unified Patent Court or a national court or competent authority of a contracting state. This is a change to the current...
Irish Referendum to join Unified Patent Court
The Irish government approved on January 23rd a proposal to hold a constitutional referendum in June on Ireland’s participation in the Unified Patent Court. The referendum will be held alongside the European and local elections in the country. The Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (UPCA), providing for the setting...
Merger of Staudt IP and Sonnenberg Harrison Partnerschaft
The IP boutique firms of Staudt IP from Ingolstadt and Sonnenberg Harrison from Munich are delighted to announce their merger with effect from 1 January 2024. This strategic alliance combines Peter Staudt's expertise in intellectual property with Sonnenberg Harrison's extensive expertise in technology, trademark, and patent law. Peter Staudt, founder...
Fusion von Staudt IP Law und Sonnenberg Harrison Partnerschaft
Mit großer Freude geben die Kanzleien Staudt IP Law aus Ingolstadt und Sonnenberg Harrison aus München ihre bevorstehende Fusion bekannt. Dieser strategische Zusammenschluss vereint die Kompetenzen von Peter Staudt im Bereich des geistigen Eigentums mit der umfassenden Expertise von Sonnenberg Harrison im Technologie-, Marken- und Patentrecht. Herr Peter Staudt, Gründer...