CONTENTS
MEDTECH
Devices and the doctrine
The role of the doctrine of equivalents in assessing the value of, and risks associated with, US medtech patents is often overlooked. Christopher Bright and Nathan Smith of Morgan Lewis report.
EPO
The plausibility battleground at the EPO
Plausibility in the context of the inventive step and sufficiency requirements can be a contentious issue before the European Patent Office. Markus Grammel of Grünecker reports.
COVID-19
Compulsory licensing is not the answer
As the race to find ways to combat the pandemic intensifies, competition laws and state aid laws should reflect the crisis, but compulsory licensing is unlikely to lead to victory, argues Robin Jacob.
ANTIBODIES
A stricter interpretation
Is the grant of a reasonable scope for antibody-related inventions at the European Patent Office a phenomenon of the past? Joachim Wachenfeld and Florian Grasser of Vossius & Partner report.
INTERVIEW
The centre of the storm
Experienced life sciences lawyer Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox director Eldora Ellison has plenty to say on some of patenting’s biggest issues, Sarah Morgan finds.
COVID-19
Anti-virus software
As AI becomes a crucial weapon in the battle against the global pandemic, companies in the field need to ensure that their valuable IP is protected, as Mao Xiao Hong and Danny Yap of IPOS International explain.
PRECISION MEDICINE
Mind over matter
Mental health treatments in the precision medicine area are difficult to invent and, importantly, protect through IP, but progress is being made, as Chris Cadman and Tony Proctor of Potter Clarkson report.
GENERICS
Why Santen ends Neurim-style SPCs
A U-turn by the EU’s highest court removed protection for repurposed active substances, as Robert Stephen and Gareth Morgan of CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang explain.
SUFFICIENCY
Caught in the sufficiency trap
A UK Supreme Court reversal of a Court of Appeal decision relating to sufficiency leaves patent applicants in a potentially difficult position, argues David Fyfield of Charles Russell Speechlys.
FOREIGN PROSECUTION
Beyond borders
Working out where to file patents internationally is daunting, but pitfalls can be avoided by following simple rules, explains Ethan LaFrance of Sun IP.
CAREER SERIES
Plants, patents and the unexpected
Catherine Lemay, assistant general counsel–IP at cannabis company Hexo, spoke to LSIPR about her career, a typical day and what it’s like working in the ‘dynamic’ cannabis industry.
TRADE SECRETS
A secret alternative
US life sciences IP owners should consider trade secret law when building their IP protection strategy, argues John A Stone of DeCotiis, FitzPatrick, Cole & Giblin.
