This new site is packed not only with information about UK trade marks, but also contains information about registration of EU and overseas marks – search really relevant for those UK businesses wanting to export or franchise or licence any branded products or services overseas. The site is come printed and covers a wide variety of issues, including;

o Trade marks – what are they?

o What are generic trademarks?

o How long can I expect it to take to register trademarks?

o Registering a trademark in the United Kingdom, EU or overseas – how much is it likely to cost?

o UK trademarks – what can I register?

o What can I do in case of trade mark infringement

o Practical tips on using the ® and TM™ signs

o The help you can expect from the specialist UK trademark attorney

o How our trademark registration services can help your business

So if you are interested in finding out more about how important trade marks can be to your business and about how our specialist team can help you with city quality trade mark and other intellectual property advice at local prices, why not visit our latest microsite or alternatively they can touch with us today on [01722] 422300.

This new online service is open to anyone – and will particularly benefit patent attorneys and those businesses which are researching patent issues or looking to protect their clients’ intellectual property rights. Amongst the available information will be data on why any particular patent was rejected, or granted.

Tax credits for research and development [R&D] for SMEs will involve two main constituent parts – R&D tax credits for companies not in profit, along with increased deductions for R&D spending out of current revenue.

Proposals to increase tax relief in relation to R&D will increase from 100% to 200% in relation to expenditure which is incurred on or subsequent to April 1, 2011 – and the government has indicated an intention to further increase the limit with effect from April 2012.

But the tax credit don’t apply to everyone. In particular, the most important qualifying criteria include

o R&B tax credits are not available to individuals or a partnership – just companies

o To qualify for relief R&D spending must be at least £10,000 pa – though it’s expected that this particular restriction will be scrapped with effect from 2012

o Such spending cannot be incurred by a contractor

o Expenditure for which the tax and the credit applies cannot have been paid for by another person

It’s certainly a good sign that the government is, at long last, taking the real value of intellectual property seriously – it is estimated that these changes in tax relief could benefit British business by around £60m every year.

If you think that these proposed changes could affect your business, make sure you speak to a specialist in R&D tax credits – if you’re not sure your current accountant has sufficient expertise in this area (and very few do), give us a ring on 01722 422300, and our intellectual property solicitors will be happy to recommend an accountant specialising in the field of R&D.

How does it work – it appears that businesses are transferring their intellectual property to a partnership or into what is referred to as a “special purpose vehicle” [SPV]. These intellectual property assets are then often used to generate royalty income over a typical 10 – 15 year period to the pension fund.

Amongst the many advantages of this scheme are the increased level of security for pension scheme trustees, not to mention the immediate reduction in the pension fund deficit and regular medium-term cash injection into the pension funds in question.

Amongst the businesses to have already taken advantage of this innovative approach are Redditch based engineering business, GKN, who have pledged royalty income from some of their trade marks to fill the hole in their pension scheme. Similarly in May 2011, the tour operator TUI, came to an agreement with the trustees of its pension schemes, to use the IP in their First Choice and Thompson brands in a similar manner.

Given the enormous pension fund deficits suffered by many British businesses, it will be interesting to see who follows suit.

The America Invents Act introduces radical change to the US patent system. But it’s not without its critics. Among the proposed changes to protecting US intellectual property rights are the following;

Perhaps the biggest change is that, in future, patents will be granted to the “first to file“ rather than the “first to invent”, which is the basis of current US patent policy. This change is not without controversy – with those intellectual property lawyers opposed to this change arguing that it would give a significant advantage to large companies, with the ability to apply for patents with relative ease, over small businesses or individual inventors. There is a particular fear that the introduction of “first to file” could result in patents being applied for before the invention they are planning to protect is properly developed

The bill does, however, introduce new ways of challenging existing patents – which in future will require a court application but instead will be dealt with at the US Patent and Trademark Office instead – which it is hoped will provide both a swifter and cheaper way of challenging patent infringement.

Unfortunately one thing the bill does not tackle is funding – without more resources, it seems likely that the current massive one year backlog of outstanding patent applications will remain – surely a missed opportunity for a country so determined to claw its way out of recession.

It shouldn’t be a problem if the code was programmed by an employee in the course of his employment by you -in that case you own the code. But if you use a freelance or independent contractor, it’s essential that to you use a well drafted agreement, signed by the programmer, in which there is a clear transfer of all relevant rights to you. It’s amazing how many people miss this simple, and often very inexpensive step – if you think it applies to you, get in touch with our intellectual property solicitors today.

For more information about how to make the most of your copyright, please visit our our dedicated copyright lawyers microsite

Well, you might say let’s use the LED shorthand for intellectual property . Instead. Fine, but have you actually looked closely at a LED light bulb or at pictures of them. For example, does this image remind you of innovation?

I rest my case. Perhaps we need some bright spark to come up with an alternative replacement for the light bulb – at least as far as intellectual property goes.

PS yes I know the logo for both our Intellectual Property Lawyer and Copyright Lawyers websites both include a drawing of the lightbulb as part of the Logo – do I plan to replace them immediately with energy from the alternatives? No. Frankly, I’ve got better things to do, like writing this blog instead !

The plan of the so-called “Patent Box” [http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/consult_patent_box_stage2.htm ] is of course to stimulate British productivity and reward those trying to exploit these particular intellectual property rights – or as the appraisal document states “ to re-establish the UK as a top location of choice for innovative industries” . However it’s noticeable that the plans don’t include any similar tax cutting for profits arising out of any other UK intellectual property – in particular UK copyright or trademarks. However, it’s possible, if the scheme is a success, that other national patents could be included in future. The system proposals also only apply to patents that have actually been drafted.

For more information on how to exploit the intellectual property rights owned by your business, contact an intellectual property lawyer from our team on 01722 422300 – for city quality intellectual property advice at local prices.

But there is hope on the horizon for those wanting sensible protection of their intellectual property rights. The American Invents Act is poised to introduce what could be the most significant reform to the whole of the patent system in US for over 175 years. And the good news is that despite the deadlock between Republicans and Democrats in the Congress over numerous economic issues, this bill looks likely to be passed in the autumn. The bill is likely to see a move towards harmonization of the American patent rules with those of other countries. However, some oppose the Act – arguing it will force patents to be filed prematurely for inventions before they have been properly developed.

However in the meantime, the American technology companies are buying up ever larger collections of patrons – see my last blog on “snapping up those patents“. This however is not without its risk – Google, for example, was on the receiving end of 8 IP litigation suits in April 2011 alone – remarkably more in that one month than in the 1st 5 years of its existence! Still that should keep patent solicitors busy.