Date set for key UPC transparency hearing
The Court of Appeal of the Unified Patent Court will hold an oral hearing on Tuesday, March 12, in the Ocado v Autostore dispute, a test case that will reveal much about how transparent the new court system intends to be.
The hearing surrounds a request for access to documents in the patent infringement dispute between the companies. Despite the infringement side of the case having been settled, a row over transparency and access to documents has persisted.
A host of firms have been lined up to act in the dispute.
To read the full article click here.
Huawei signs patent cross-licensing deals with Amazon and Vivo
Huawei announced on Tuesday, March 5, that it had signed global patent cross-licensing agreements with Amazon and Vivo.
The China-based company hasn’t disclosed the value of the deals or their duration, except that both arrangements are for “multiple years”.
To read the full article click here.
K&L Gates eyes regional expansion with patent litigator hire
Multinational firm K&L Gates has expanded its presence in the US Southeast by hiring a litigator the firm’s lawyers acted against in a multi-pronged patent dispute.
The firm announced on Monday, March 4, that Vincent Galluzzo has joined the firm as a partner in its Charlotte, North Carolina office. Galluzzo joins from Crowell & Moring, where he was co-chair of the firm’s trade secrets working group.
To read the full article click here.
Other articles published on Managing IP this week include:
Best of both worlds: Brinkhof’s UPC strategy
IP Australia chief: office well-placed to manage AI risks
Texas court orders damages retrial in $67.5m Samsung case
How IP arbitration lawyers are scouting new leads
Five minutes with ... Patricia Revuelta, Abril Abogados
Wiggin and Dana latest firm to bolster life sciences team
In the Zohn: Abion hires ex-FIFA lawyer for brand protection
Behind the case: How Bird & Bird overturned a PI at the UPC
Weekly take: No more flashy pledges, firms must get real on diversity
How IP lawyers are meeting clients’ patent licensing needs
Elsewhere in IP
WIPO dip
Huawei, Samsung, and Qualcomm were the top users of WIPO’s international patent system last year, the UN agency revealed on Thursday, March 7. However, patent filings declined for the first time in 15 years.
Overall filings through WIPO’s Patent Cooperation Treaty system dropped 1.8% year-on-year. Trademark applications fell by 7% while the use of WIPO’s international design system grew by 1%.
Samsung on song
Samsung has topped a list of the top 100 global innovators. The list, published by IP analytics company Clarivate on Tuesday, March 5, detailed the top companies for technology research and innovation. Japan was the biggest contributor with 38 companies in the top 100. Canon, Honda, Toyota, and Seiko Epson, which are all Japanese, completed the top five.
Trademark targets
The UK Supreme Court unanimously upheld a ruling by the England and Wales Court of Appeal by finding that Amazon’s US website targets UK consumers.
In judgment handed down on Wednesday, March 6, the court backed brand owner Lifestyle Equities. Lifestyle Equities claimed that Amazon’s US website targeted UK consumers by enabling products sold on the site to be visible and accessible in the UK. This also amounted to trademark infringement in the UK, the court found.
Hogan Lovells acted for Amazon while Lifestyle Equities was represented by Brandsmiths.
Avanci drives forward
Ford has become the latest automotive company to join Avanci’s 5G platform, the patent pool operator announced on Tuesday, March 5. Ford was already a licensee of the Avanci 4G programme. Launched in August last year, the 5G programme now has more than 30 automotive brands and over 65 licensors.
Pool growth
Tech companies IDEAHUB, Technology in Ariscale, and SK Telecom have joined patent pool operator Via Licensing Alliance’s ATSC 3.0 patent pool, it was announced on Wednesday, March 6. Through the ATSC 3.0 pool, manufacturers have a license to licensors' ATSC 3.0 standard essential patent portfolios.
Seoul searching
Seoul Semiconductor said on Tuesday, March 5, that it has filed a patent lawsuit against Amazon at the UPC and that it is seeking an injunction. The asserted patent details technology that adjusts the brightness and colour of LED lighting products.
Patent savings
The amount of tax saved by businesses through the UK government’s patent box scheme has increased from £1.14 billion ($1.4 billion) in the financial year 2017/18 to £1.4 billion ($1.7 billion) in 2021/22 (a 23% rise), according to research by IP firm Mathys & Squire.
Introduced in 2013, the scheme allows UK businesses to pay just 10% corporation tax on profits derived from any patents covering the UK and some EU states.
The UK financial year runs from April 1 to March 31.
Gordon Harris moves on
Gordon Harris is to join IP boutique Trevisan & Cuonzo, it was revealed on Wednesday, March 6. Harris, who spent more than 40 years at Gowling WLG, including as head of IP, will join the firm as counsel from April 1.
Trevisan & Cuonzo said Harris, who has been involved in the progress of the UPC since its early days, will provide insights into the potential of the Milan Central Division as well as local divisions in Italy.
Super six
Paul Hastings announced Monday, March 4, that it had hired a six-partner IP litigation team from Allen & Overy. The team, based in the US, includes Shamita Etienne-Cummings, Lisa Nguyen, Eric Lancaster, James Gagen, and Grace Wang. Paul Hastings said it will reveal the sixth partner's name on Monday, March 11.
That's it for today, see you again next week.
