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October 2009

European Patent Office Rule Changes
The European Patent Office (EPO) has announced a number of rule changes that will come into effect in April 2010, some of which have, potentially, a very significant effect on the progress of European patent applications. The changes in and our recommendations, in terms of best practice, are discussed in detail.

September 2009

Software patents: landmark decisions awaited
These are interesting times for software patents. Two very important decisions are currently awaited, one on each side of the Atlantic, both of which have the potential to set the software patent scene for some time to come. In Europe, the referral to the Enlarged Board of Appeal in the EPO on the patentability of computer implemented inventions is still pending. Meanwhile, in the USA, the decision of In re Bilski has now been referred to the Supreme Court.