Kilburn & Strode

There's still time to get your applications in over the weekend for our Trainee Patent and Trade Mark attorney roles! Use the extra hour this weekend to finalise those applications before the deadline on Tuesday 29 October at 1pm GMT. To find out more and apply, visit our website https://lnkd.in/eYeuUcxp

It’s great to see the launch of the UK IPO’s latest campaign “Fake Always Breaks” which highlights the dangers of counterfeit products in the motor parts sector, with brakes, tyres and airbags included in the list of commonly purchased products. According to the IPO’s survey, a shocking “one in six motorists who responded said they had bought a counterfeit part in the past 12 months alone”. Whilst counterfeit products may look highly similar and their lower cost may make them attractive to some consumers, their effectiveness and quality is not the same as the genuine parts, and educating the 58% of motorists who admitted to knowingly purchasing counterfeit parts could be a key component to help battle counterfeit products. If you or your business need assistance with protecting and enforcing your trade mark rights against third-party infringers, please reach out to our Anti-Counterfeiting Team: Carol Nyahasha, Iain Stewart, Ben Scarfield or Alicia Nash or your usual Kilburn & Strode Advisor. 

Kilburn & Strode recognised as Patent Prosecution Firm of the Year (UK) at this year’s Global IP Awards.   The Global IP Awards ceremony recognises the outstanding achievements of law and attorney firms in litigation, prosecution, and transactional work. From a field of strong contenders, we were honoured to receive this award which reflects our market leading approach to strategic prosecution. The event provided an excellent opportunity to catch-up with colleagues and celebrate the hard work and success of our fellow industry members, and we would like to extend our thanks to IAM for hosting a special evening.

Trade Mark Associate Fernando Di Blasi provides key insights into the Opinion of the Grand Board following a referral made by the Executive Director of the European Union Intellectual Property Office on a number of practice points involving conversion, a topic that has gained considerable attention recently. The post below summarises the key takeaways from the Opinion provided by the Grand Board and the impact it may have on conversion for EUTM holders.

Many inventions, particularly in the chemical field, are defined by ‘parameters’ rather than structural features. Parameters are measurable physical or chemical properties used to define an invention where using structural features would not be possible or would be too limiting. Ensuring the correct level of detail is included to describe how parameters are measured in your patent application is important for ensuring the EPO’s requirements for clarity and sufficiency are met. In this article, Faysal Farah, Tom Hailes, Benjamin Heller and Jessica Smart share their tips to help you navigate the EPO’s approach to parameters for the best chance of success in Europe. 

Congratulations to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun who were jointly awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery of microRNA in the small worm C. elegans. This groundbreaking discovery revealed a new dimension to gene regulation, essential for all complex life forms, and has paved the way for a new class of RNA therapeutics. In the article below, Beth Ormrod and Jamie Atkins explore the discovery in greater detail and discuss its impact on patent protection in the field of RNA therapeutics. 

Chambers and Partners awards Kilburn & Strode a Band 1 ranking for the 14th consecutive year.   We are thrilled to maintain our Band 1 ranking in the Intellectual Property: Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys category in the 2025 edition of Chambers and Partners. Congratulations to Gwilym Roberts and Jennifer Harris for being recognised as notable practitioners. We would also like to extend our deep thanks to Chambers, our clients and contacts for their exceptional feedback. #ChambersUK2025 #IntellectualProperty #IP #Trademarks Read more: https://lnkd.in/e5vuJerr

Applications are now open for the European Patent Pipeline Program (EPPP) which will be taking place in the summer of 2025! We’re proud to be taking part in the award-winning EPPP for the second year running in partnership with The National Council on Patent Practicum, Inc. (NCPP) alongside Murgitroyd, and very pleased to welcome HLK and Withers & Rogers who are also taking part this year. This program seeks to widen access to the patent profession by breaking down some common barriers and providing a structured, tailored internship opportunity to bring this fantastic career to a wider audience. For a 10-week period, interns will have a one-of-a-kind opportunity to shadow and learn from European Patent Attorneys in both private practice and in-house teams, setting them up perfectly for a career at one of the founding European firms. Applications can be made here https://lnkd.in/eQ6gArEn via Generating Genius. The deadline for applications is Saturday 4 January 2025 and if you follow the link you can also register for one of our webinars if you’d like to find out more. 

Exciting advancements in mRNA therapeutics over recent years have led to the recent launch of a phase 3 clinical trial for the world's first "personalised" mRNA vaccine to treat melanoma. In this article, Juliette Howarth, Sam Bailey and Tom Leonard discuss how these cutting-edge mRNA vaccines can be tailored to each patient resulting in a more targeted and effective treatment, how the promise of these vaccines to treat cancer and other diseases is reflected in intellectual property battles, and what the future looks like for the use of mRNA in "personalised" cancer therapies.

Do you want to take your science, technology or engineering knowledge into the real world? Where you can play a crucial role in the protection and commercialisation of cutting-edge technologies and IP matters in the life sciences field, while working alongside some of the leading scientists in their areas? If so, have you considered a career as a patent attorney? This will give you the chance to immerse yourself in a diverse range of technology and simultaneously grapple with fascinating legal challenges.  Our Patents team are holding a webinar on Thursday 24 October from 5.30pm - 6.30pm (GMT+1) to provide an insight into life as an Attorney, how you can enter the profession and application top tips.  Register here https://lnkd.in/eWWTpJBX