This week on MIP: USPTO’s AI ban | SEP wars latest

November 22, 2024

Magnifying glass showing forbidden artificial intelligence symbol on yellow background

The USPTO’s internal ban on AI use, a major SEP ruling rejecting an interim licence request, and the EUIPO’s five-year plan were among the biggest talking points

We review what’s been happening in IP and provide a rundown of Managing IP’s news and analysis from the past week.

This week in IP

AI ban

The USPTO banned the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) for any purpose last year, citing security concerns with the technology as well as the propensity of some tools to exhibit bias and unpredictability, according to an internal guidance memo obtained this week by technology news publication ‘WIRED’.

Designs reform

The EU Design Legislative Reform Package was published in the Official Journal of the EU on Monday, November 18. The new provisions modernise the two-decades-old design legislation to address the challenges posed by the virtual world while harmonising national and EU-level provisions.

EUIPO plan

Sticking with the EU, the EUIPO published its ‘Strategic Plan 2030’ on Thursday, November 21. The plan outlines the office’s vision for IP and its priorities for the next five years. Taking effect on January 1 2025, the plan will guide the EUIPO’s activities from 2025-2030, aiming to build a "robust, inclusive and sustainable IP ecosystem".

Penn State

A jury at the District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania ruled on Wednesday, November 20 that retailer Vintage Brand infringed trademarks belonging to the Pennsylvania State University by selling merchandise with vintage Penn State logos.

FRAND ruling

The England and Wales High Court rejected Lenovo’s request for an interim licence in its standard-essential patent dispute with Ericsson. His Honour Judge Jonathan Richards handed down the ruling on Friday, November 15. The court must now decide on a cross-licence and a corresponding rate in the main proceedings.

Anaqua sale

Private equity firm Astorg announced on Monday, November 18, that it had entered into negotiations to sell its majority stake in Anaqua, a global IP management platform, to Nordic Capital.

On the move

EIP said on Wednesday, November 20, that it had hired Xiaofan Chen as a partner. Chen, who will be based in the UK, brings nearly two decades of experience as a Chinese-qualified patent attorney and has worked with both Chinese and international firms. He joined the firm from AWA.

Articles published on Managing IP this week include:

‘A nerd at heart’: USPTO chief Vidal looks ahead

USPTO director Kathi Vidal told Managing IP she is looking forward to conducting policy-orientated work at Winston & Strawn that takes into account what she learned during her tenure as USPTO director.

Winston & Strawn announced this week that Vidal will rejoin the firm’s litigation department as a partner in Silicon Valley and Washington DC on December 16.

Before joining the patent office in 2022, Vidal had been at Winston & Strawn since April 2017.

Vidal told Managing IP that she wanted to return to private practice because of the ability to work with different companies.

To read the full article, click here.

Exclusive: Venner Shipley and AA Thornton to combine

Intellectual property firms Venner Shipley and AA Thornton are to merge, Managing IP revealed this week.

The two firms will join forces on December 1 to create an outfit with a combined headcount of more than 200, including 46 partners.

The combined firm will operate under the Venner Shipley name.

To read the full article click here.

Exclusive: Osborne Clarke hires Fieldfisher’s former IP head

In another exclusive, Managing IP revealed that Osborne Clarke had hired Fieldfisher partner John Linneker as a partner in its trademark litigation team.

Linneker, who previously co-led Fieldfisher’s IP team for five years before stepping down in March, will join Osborne Clarke next month.

To read the full article, click here.