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IP STARS 2024: Laine IP Recognized in Top Tier for Patent and Trademark Excellence
We are excited to share that Laine IP has been recognized in the prestigious Tier 1 category for both patent and trademark services in the 2024 Managing Intellectual Property (MIP) rankings. This annual publication is renowned in the intellectual property realm, featuring evaluations based on comprehensive independent research involving feedback from clients and industry peers.
Achieving Tier 1 status for both our patent and trademark work highlights our commitment to our clients and their businesses. These recognitions reflect the positive experiences shared by our customers, highlighting our dedication to providing exceptional support.
MIP Stars
In addition to our firm’s recognition, several of our experts have also been acknowledged individually. Tatu Ahlskog and Kathy Wasström have received MIP Stars in the patent category, while Joose Kilpimaa and Reijo Kokko have been honored in the trademark category.
Rising Stars
Furthermore, MIP celebrates emerging talent through its Rising Star awards. We are proud to announce that our European Patent Attorneys Tiia-Riikka Kittilä and Joni Vehmas, along with EU Trademark and Design Attorney Jemina Koskela, have all been recognized as Rising Stars for their significant contributions to their clients’ successes.
We congratulate all our recognized experts on this remarkable achievement!
At Laine IP, we are proud to be counted among the world’s leading intellectual property firms once again. We would like to express our gratitude to our clients and partners for their continued trust and support. We also want to acknowledge our dedicated team, whose commitment ensures the protection of our clients’ intellectual property rights.
Thank you for being a part of our journey!
Unified Patent Court (UPC) has started its operation on June 1, 2023. The UPC system simplifies patenting in Europe such that it is possible to request for unitary effect for a granted European patent in the countries, which have ratified the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (UPCA). A European patent with unitary effect may also be referred to as a Unitary Patent (UP).
The UPCA entered into force in Romania on 1 September 2024. It is therefore now possible to request for unitary effect for a granted European patent in 18 countries, which have ratified the UPCA.
The countries which have ratified the UPCA are at the moment (marked in the map): Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Sweden.
We will continue to actively monitor the situation and get back to you, if there are any changes.
If you have any questions relating to the UPC, please contact our UPC experts at upc@laineip.fi
Our office will close on Friday, 30th August exceptionally at 12:00 due to relocation of our Helsinki office to the 4th floor at our current address (Porkkalankatu 24). We will re-open normally on Monday, September 2 at 8.30 AM.
Our telephone numbers work normalwise, so in urgent matters you will reach our experts by phone (office: 09 6859 560).
We apologize for any inconvenience caused.
We’re excited to announce that Dr. Adam Herrala Bricker has joined our firm as a Patent Agent Trainee in our US IP Team. Adam holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Michigan State University in the U.S.; Master’s Degrees in Human Neuroscience and Philosophy; and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Edinburgh.
He joins our firm after last working as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Turku, having previously held postdoctoral positions at the Universities of Oulu and Cologne, as well as a visiting researcher position at Dartmouth College. Additionally, Adam is fluent in several computer programming languages, especially Python for data processing and JavaScript for web development. Adam adds to our firm’s capabilities in assisting our clients with their US IP needs.
For further information, please contact Mark Scott +358504091218 or mark.scott@laineip.fi
The European Patent Office has traditionally been of the opinion that Article 69(1) EPC and the Protocol on the Interpretation of Article 69 EPC, according to which the extent of the protection conferred by an EP application or an EP patent is determined by the claims, but the description and drawings shall be used to interpret the claims, concerns courts of law, not the EPO itself, with the exception of broadening the scope of protection during opposition (Article 123(3)).
In the past years this opinion has however partly changed, and the opinions as well as the decisions of the Boards of Appeal have diverged at the EPO. Thus, a referral G1/24 has been made to the Enlarged Board of Appeal of the EPO, the referral being based on the decision T439/22 of a technical Board of Appeal. The referral asks the following three questions.
The Court of Appeal of the UPC gave, in March 2024, a decision UPC_CoA_335/2023, according to which the description and drawings are always to be used to interpret the claims, instead of being used only for resolving unclarities. It will therefore be very interesting to see how the EBoA of the EPO answers the questions asked, which relate to the same issue. The EPO has on one hand said that they will follow decisions of the UPC and aim at harmonising decisions, but on the other hand, the Boards of Appeal of the EPO are independent and their decisions should be based only on the EPC and its Travaux Préparatoires. If the answers to the questions asked will be positive, i.e. that the description and claims are always to be used to interpret the claims, it will be fascinating to read, on which EPC Article or document of the Travaux Préparatoires the decision is based. It might simply be based on the use of the word “shall” in the second sentence of Article 69(1), but we’ll see.
The EPO has also already informed that despite this referral, examination and opposition proceedings will continue as normal, and will thus not be stayed until the decision is issued.
The 2024 edition of the IAM Patent 1000 Guide has now been published, which includes recommended patent law firms and a listing of 1000 standout patent practitioners across the globe.
We are pleased to share that Laine IP has maintained a Silver ranking and been provided with excellent reviews in the Patent Prosecution category.
In addition, firm Managing Director and European Patent Attorney, Jouni Smolander; European patent attorneys, Kaisa Suominen, Jarkko Tiilikainen, Hanna Laurén, and Kathy Wasström, and two of our U.S. patent professionals, Mark Scott and Toimi Teelahti (also a European Patent Attorney), were individually named as Recommended Practitioners in the 2024 IAM Patent 1000’s listing of 1000 standout practitioners across the globe.
A link to the 2024 IAM 1000 Guide and Laine IP’s recognitions can be found here.
We sincerely appreciate our clients’ continued trust in our firm and their feedback in IAM’s selection process.
Managing Intellectual Property MIP has released the 2024 MIP Stars recognitions last week!
Managing Intellectual Property (MIP), the leading publication in the intellectual property world, has begun the unveiling of its 2024 recognitions by publishing the MIP Stars list, which features the top IP experts from various countries. The MIP Stars recognitions are based on independent research where clients and peer firms evaluate the performance of individuals in the IP field.
The following experts from Laine IP have once again received global recognition:
Patent Star 2024: Tatu Ahlskog & Kathy Wasström
Trademark Star 2024: Joose Kilpimaa & Reijo Kokko
We are proud to be recognized once again among the world’s most esteemed IP firms. We would like to thank not only our clients and partners but also our employees—each and every person at Laine IP—who tirelessly work to protect our clients’ intellectual property rights.
Unified Patent Court (UPC) has started its operation on June 1, 2023. The UPC system simplifies patenting in Europe such that it is possible to request for unitary effect for a granted European patent in the countries, which have ratified the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (UPCA) (17 EU member states at the moment). A European patent with unitary effect may also be referred to as a Unitary Patent (UP).
The countries which have ratified the UPCA are at the moment (marked with green in the map): Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia and Sweden.
The UPCA has been signed by 24 current EU member states, including Romania. Romania belongs to the European Patent Convention (EPC) and has participated in the regulation of the UP. Romania was not a Contracting Member State of the UPC in the beginning though, because Romania had not ratified the UPCA before the UPC started its operation.
Romania has now ratified the UPCA and deposited its instrument of ratification of the agreement, becoming the 18th Member State to join the UP system, one year after the UPCA entered into force.
The UPCA will enter into force in Romania on 1 September 2024.
We will continue to actively monitor the situation and get back to you as soon as we know more.
The original news can be found here.
We are thrilled to announce that Laine IP Oy has been recognized as a Tier 1 firm in Trademark Prosecution among Patent & Trademark attorney firms by Managing IP (MIP) for the year. This prestigious accolade highlights our dedication to excellence and innovation in the field of IP.
Building on our previous achievement as a Tier 1 firm in Patent Prosecution last year, this new recognition in Trademark Prosecution further demonstrates our expertise and consistent delivery of exceptional service in both key areas of intellectual property. Being distinguished as a leader in both categories by one of the industry’s most respected bodies is not only an honor but also a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication.
At Laine IP Oy, we believe that such achievements are a reflection of our deep understanding of the IP landscape and our ability to adapt to the dynamic needs of our clients. We are proud to serve a diverse clientele, ranging from individual inventors to large multinational corporations, providing tailored solutions that protect their innovations and brands across the globe.
This dual recognition as a Tier 1 firm in both Patent and Trademark Prosecution allows us to confidently say that Laine IP Oy is equipped to handle the most complex and demanding IP challenges. We remain committed to maintaining our standards of excellence and continuing to innovate within the industry.
We extend our deepest gratitude to our clients for their trust and partnership, which has been integral to our success. We also thank our dedicated team, whose expertise and unwavering commitment to client service have enabled us to achieve this significant milestone.
As we celebrate this achievement, we look forward to continuing to support our clients with the same level of excellence and dedication that has brought us here. For those interested in learning more about our services and how we can assist in protecting your intellectual property, please explore our website or contact us directly.
Thank you for being a part of our journey. Together, we continue to set the standard in intellectual property protection.
Laine IP Oy
Contact Details
Tel: (09) 6859 560
Fax: (09) 6859 5610
Email: posti@laineip.fi
Mailing Address
Laine IP Oy
PL 339
00181 Helsinki
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