Pipers Bulletins

Pipers issues a bulletin on a monthly basis providing a summary of recent developments in intellectual property law and practice in Australasia and other key countries and regions such as USA, UK, Europe and Asia.  Below are links to articles in the latest bulletin. Previous issues can be accessed via the left pane navigation.

Contents Summary of Latest Bulletin

1. Patents

Canada

Proposed Changes to Canadian Patent Examination Seek to Motivate Focussed Prosecution
Stemming mainly from its obligations under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) the Canadian federal government has notified amendments to the Patent Rules that it seeks to implement.

New Zealand

Clarification that Divisional Double Patenting Objection Resolvable by Surrender of Parent Patent
In Ganymed Pharmaceuticals GmbH (and Anor) 2021 NZIPOPAT 6 the Assistant Commissioner has clarified that Regulation 82(b) does not prevent an applicant from avoiding a double patenting objection on a divisional application by surrendering the patent granted from the parent.

United States of America

Can the Dimensions of a Patented Device be a Trade Secret?
The recent Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (CA7C) decision Life Spine Inc v Aegis Spine Inc 21-1649 held that Life Spine’s patent for spinal implant technology did not undermine a District Court’s preliminary injunction that included a finding of trade secret misappropriation in relation to the spinal implant technology.

2. Trade Marks

United Kingdom

It’s a Long Way to the Top Shelf if You Want Your Mimic to Roll
In William Grant & Sons Irish Brands Limited v Lidl Stiftung & Co KG 2021 CSIH 38 the Scottish Court of Session for the Inner House (CSIH) upheld the Outer House interim interdict finding that Lidl’s rebranded gin bottle takes unfair advantage of the reputation William Grant has in its HENDRICK’S gin bottle.