Patents

It is well known that for an invention to be patentable, it must be ‘new’, even if the concept of what is new is not fully clear. But if we move forward and ask about the other two patentability requirements that must be met for an invention to be granted a patent—inventive step and industrial applicability—others might scratch their noses and tilt their head.

CNIPA and ARIPO will collaborate over the next five years to enhance intellectual property cooperation between China and Africa through the new CNIPA-ARIPO Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program.

The 2024 AIPPI World Congress took place in Hangzhou, China, from October 19th to the 22nd, bringing together professionals from across the global intellectual property (IP) community. The event covered a broad range of key IP topics, including examinations, IP protection, trademarks, and patents.

The Global Innovation Index 2024, launched by WIPO includes a new indicator that compares an economy's level of development with the impact of its social enterprises, recognizing these ventures for their ability to drive transformative innovation across sectors. These enterprises, often overlooked in traditional models, are contributing significantly to GDP and societal progress by addressing global challenges through innovative solutions.

The 2024 edition of The Legal 500: Intellectual Property Comparative Guide is now available, featuring insights from Vítor Palmela Fidalgo and João Pereira Cabral on Intellectual Property laws and regulations in Portugal.

This comparative guide delivers an up-to-date overview of intellectual property law and practice across numerous jurisdictions.

For more details, explore the Portugal chapter in the 2024 Legal 500: Intellectual Property Comparative Guide here.

Understanding the procedures for entering an international patent application into the European Patent Office (EPO) regional phase under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) is crucial for securing European patent rights.

Vítor Sérgio Moreira provides a detailed overview of the necessary steps, deadlines, and potential legal remedies, guiding applicants through the complexities of the EURO-PCT process to ensure compliance and avoid costly errors.

The development of writing tools over time reflects the evolution of human communication and technology and further demonstrates how advancements in materials and digital innovation have transformed the way we record and share information.

It is believed that writing originated in only one location—Sumer, southern Mesopotamia (around 3500 BCE)—and later spread across the world via cultural diffusion. The Sumerians used a stylus made of reed to inscribe cuneiform on wet clay tablets, which were then baked to preserve the writing for recording of transactions, laws, and stories.

Romania will join the Unitary Patent (UP) system starting on September 1, 2024, following the deposit of its instrument of ratification of the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (UPCA) on 31 May 2024. Consequently, all European patents with unitary effect from September 1 will automatically include the coverage of Romania. This addition will raise the total number of the European Union (EU) Member States participating in the Unitary Patent system to 18.

We are proud to see Inventa recognized in the Leaders League ranking of the best firms in Portugal for 2024 in "Trademark Prosecution" (Leading Firm), "Patent Prosecution" (Leading Firm) and "IP Litigation" (Recommended Firm) categories, with a particular highlight on the performance of Vítor Palmela Fidalgo, Vítor Sérgio Moreira, João Pereira Cabral and