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This text excerpts a book offering a practical guide for small and medium-sized mature enterprises (SMMEs) to achieve innovation-driven renewal. It stresses the importance of a balanced approach, combining optimisation of existing operations with the pursuit of breakthrough innovation. The book uses case studies, such as Wes-Tech and Breuer Electric, to illustrate effective methodologies like design thinking and phase-gate processes. It also highlights the crucial role of skilled innovators and their management within SMMEs, advocating for a culture that embraces risk and customer collaboration. Finally, it provides assessment tools to help SMMEs evaluate their innovation capabilities and align their strategies...

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) Board of Appeal ruled that the trademark "KOOL AND THE GANG" possesses sufficient reputation, overturning an earlier decision. the Board of Appeal found evidence demonstrating the band's significant reputation, referencing previous case law involving "THE BEATLES". A LinkedIn post by Julie Desrois, a patents and trademarks attorney, celebrates this decision.

In this episode we discuss how AI is transforming how inventions are conceived, developed, and protected. In addition we look at AI-powered like patentbutler.ai streamline ideation, prior art searches, patent drafting, and white space analysis. AI enables already today more strategic IP management, allowing companies to focus R&D efforts and secure valuable IP rights. AI tools can analyse vast datasets (patents, scientific literature, market research) to identify trends, patterns, and unmet needs. AI can help overcome creative blocks by suggesting novel combinations of concepts and exploring various design parameters. AI can assist in synthetic inventing by: Identifying white spaces in...

Here we discuss the complex issue of AI-assisted inventions and its implications for patent law. Robert Plotkin presents three perspectives on AI's role in invention, highlighting the challenges to traditional understandings of inventorship. Commenters offer rebuttals, arguing that AI itself cannot be an inventor and raising concerns about the legal definition of an inventor and the implications for future inventions. The debate centres on whether AI is merely a tool or a collaborator in invention, and who should be legally recognised as the inventor in AI-assisted creations. The discussion also touches on the legal implications for other non-human legal entities...

This episode discusses the complexities of Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) and their impact on SMEs in today's connected world. It highlights the UK IPO's initiatives to support SMEs, including the IP Advance scheme and SEP Resource Hub. The episode emphasizes the importance of understanding SEP licensing, potential risks, and provides a list of questions for IP audits to help SMEs navigate this complex landscape.

In this episode, we dive into the complexities of intellectual property (IP) in the electric vehicle industry, focusing on Tesla's recent lawsuit against its former supplier, Matthews International Corporation. Tesla alleges that Matthews misappropriated trade secrets related to its innovative dry-electrode battery manufacturing technology and filed patents based on these confidential insights. We explore the implications of this case for businesses that rely heavily on trade secrets rather than patents, highlighting the risks involved in sharing sensitive information within supply chains. Additionally, we discuss Tesla's unique approach to IP, including CEO Elon Musk's controversial views on patents and the challenges...

AI-supported patent drafting/filing tools present significant advantages but also come with challenges related to privacy concerns and reliance on technology over human expertise within legal practices today—attorneys must navigate these complexities carefully when integrating them into their workflows moving forward. Learn in this episode how these technologies improve efficiency, consistency and creativity in patent prosecution. Uncover the potential pitfalls, including privacy concerns and over-reliance on AI. Essential listening for IP professionals navigating the future of patent prosecution.

In this episode, we explore strategies for building a robust IP portfolio for MedTech startups. We compare the traditional IP portfolio approach with the modern layered IP model and discuss their pros and cons. Learn how to align your IP strategy with business objectives, allocate resources effectively, and create a portfolio that appeals to investors while protecting your innovations in the dynamic MedTech sector.

Using IP benchmarking to create a compelling narrative for C-level executives is a powerful way to communicate the strategic value of intellectual property. By gathering comprehensive data, developing relevant KPIs, benchmarking against competitors, creating impactful visualizations, and crafting a tailored story, IP professionals can effectively demonstrate the crucial role of IP in driving innovation, mitigating risks, and creating financial value. This approach not only highlights the importance of IP management but also helps secure buy-in for IP initiatives that align with and support the company’s broader strategic objectives.