Last week I mentioned that the commencement order implementing the provisions of the Patent Act 2004 had been made and that Patent Office opinions would be available as from today. Since today is a Saturday the first available day in practice is Monday.
The Patent Office has published the application form and a whole load of useful information about the service on its website. Full details are available on our other blog "Patent Office Opinions available from Monday". This is intended to make it a lot easier and cheaper for independent inventors and small businessmen and women to enforce their rights.
I for my part will do my best to make sure that it is.
01 October 2005
New Booklets from the Patent Office
The Patent Office has just produced two excellent booklets for inventors. One is called "Essential Reading" and it really is. The other is called a "Patents Application Guide".
The first of these booklets sets out to provide the sort of information an inventor, investor or other person with an interest in an invention needs to consider before committing him or herself to applying for a patent. It also contains a summary of the patenting process in the UK and abroad as well as information about renewing, enforcing and exploiting patent rights.
The other guide is all about how to apply for a UK patent. Right at the starts it warns of the need to keep your invention secret and the importance of getting professional advice. Other good advice is to be on the look out for invention promotion companies. Sources of disinterested and in some cases free advice are identified.
The first of these booklets sets out to provide the sort of information an inventor, investor or other person with an interest in an invention needs to consider before committing him or herself to applying for a patent. It also contains a summary of the patenting process in the UK and abroad as well as information about renewing, enforcing and exploiting patent rights.
The other guide is all about how to apply for a UK patent. Right at the starts it warns of the need to keep your invention secret and the importance of getting professional advice. Other good advice is to be on the look out for invention promotion companies. Sources of disinterested and in some cases free advice are identified.
30 September 2005
Correction
In case readers miss her comment, Linda Oakley has very properly pointed out that there are a number of people who give their time to Ideas 21. I happily acknowledge them. Those who spring to mind are Eve, Dee, Roland and his staff in Manchester and Richard Gallafent in London but there may be others. They all do a good job. I thank them for their efforts.
Blogging is supposed to be spontaneous which means that errors sometimes get through. I meant to say in "Making Money from Crime" that I had not been to any "Last Tuesday" (that is to say London Tuesday evening meetings) but I have certainly been to many Manchester ones. I have also been to at least one day time event as well as a talk on advisory opinions on 1 July which was brought to my attention and booked through Linda.
The only reason I haven't been to quite so more this year is that we have moved to the Media Centre and as I don't have time for two trips to Manchester per month I have to make a choice between the Manchester Inventors' Group and Second Tuesday meetings and, up to now, more of the former that have caught my interest than the latter. But that may not always be the case. I went to both inventors groups' meetings when I was working in Manchester. The Second Tuesday ones were always very good.
Linda is certainly a better source of information about Ideas21 than me. She says in her comment that she can be reached on 020 8780 9017 at any time. I had found it difficult to reach her in the afternoons on the four or five occasions that I have tried to call her last year but perhaps I was unlucky. Ideas21 also has a comprehensive events diary on its website the address of which I have previously supplied.
Blogging is supposed to be spontaneous which means that errors sometimes get through. I meant to say in "Making Money from Crime" that I had not been to any "Last Tuesday" (that is to say London Tuesday evening meetings) but I have certainly been to many Manchester ones. I have also been to at least one day time event as well as a talk on advisory opinions on 1 July which was brought to my attention and booked through Linda.
The only reason I haven't been to quite so more this year is that we have moved to the Media Centre and as I don't have time for two trips to Manchester per month I have to make a choice between the Manchester Inventors' Group and Second Tuesday meetings and, up to now, more of the former that have caught my interest than the latter. But that may not always be the case. I went to both inventors groups' meetings when I was working in Manchester. The Second Tuesday ones were always very good.
Linda is certainly a better source of information about Ideas21 than me. She says in her comment that she can be reached on 020 8780 9017 at any time. I had found it difficult to reach her in the afternoons on the four or five occasions that I have tried to call her last year but perhaps I was unlucky. Ideas21 also has a comprehensive events diary on its website the address of which I have previously supplied.
Free Legal Advice
On the last Friday of every month I give a free clinic between 11 am and 1 pm at The Media Centre in Huddersfield. Save for occasional clinics that I do by special arrangement with Bradford Business Link and IdeasNW, I charge by the hour at all other times. Today I have only one client which may mean that everybody else is satisfied or found some other advisor but it may be that not everyone is aware of the service.
Anyone who wants free advice from me on the last Friday of the month should make an appointment with Jacquie Asquith of the Huddersfield Business Generator on Tel +44 (0)1484 483 080 Email j.asquith@huddersfieldbg.co.uk. Anyone wanting to catch me in Bradford should call David Robertson-Brown on Tel +44 (0)1274 772777 and anyone wanting to catch me in Lancashire should call Paul White at Blackburn Borough Council on Tel +44 (0)1254 692692 Email paul.white@blackburn.gov.uk for an appointment.
Anyone who wants free advice from me on the last Friday of the month should make an appointment with Jacquie Asquith of the Huddersfield Business Generator on Tel +44 (0)1484 483 080 Email j.asquith@huddersfieldbg.co.uk. Anyone wanting to catch me in Bradford should call David Robertson-Brown on Tel +44 (0)1274 772777 and anyone wanting to catch me in Lancashire should call Paul White at Blackburn Borough Council on Tel +44 (0)1254 692692 Email paul.white@blackburn.gov.uk for an appointment.
28 September 2005
betfair.com British Invention Show
I have just received an email from Linda of Ideas 21 reminding me that the "betfair.com British Invention Show" will take place at the Alexandra Palace between 20 and 23 October 2005. Not only that, but Linda is offering to host Ideas21 members' exhibits on the Ideas 21 stand.
Ideas21 appear recently to have increased their sub to £35 + a £5 joining fee, but for that you get access to the private bits of the Ideas21 website, a book by James Dyson, the bloke who invented the cyclone vacuum cleaner, and a load of pencils as well as £5 discount on admission to Second Tuesday talks in Manchester. I have been told that Ideas21 also let members of some other inventors' clubs into their events for no extra cost but you will have to ask Linda about that because I have never been able to understand the rules. Her telephone number is 020 8780 9017 and the best time to catch her tends to be the morning.
If you are already a member of Ideas21 and you want to take Linda up on her offer you should email events@ideas21.co.uk ASAP.
Ideas21 appear recently to have increased their sub to £35 + a £5 joining fee, but for that you get access to the private bits of the Ideas21 website, a book by James Dyson, the bloke who invented the cyclone vacuum cleaner, and a load of pencils as well as £5 discount on admission to Second Tuesday talks in Manchester. I have been told that Ideas21 also let members of some other inventors' clubs into their events for no extra cost but you will have to ask Linda about that because I have never been able to understand the rules. Her telephone number is 020 8780 9017 and the best time to catch her tends to be the morning.
If you are already a member of Ideas21 and you want to take Linda up on her offer you should email events@ideas21.co.uk ASAP.
27 September 2005
Something for Inventors to look forward to
The BBC Technology website has an article on a personal fabricator, that is to say a machine that will make just about anything. Rapid prototype companies such as CDRM in High Wycombe and ame-prototypes at Dinnington have been using techniques like stereolithography and micro-modelling. Clark Boyd's article "Hi-tech DIY to solve local problems" reviews some of the uses of the technology in Scandinavia, South Africa and elsewhere.
It is perhaps helpful to consider these machines as a bit like 3-dimensional ink jet colour printers. These build combinations of dots of ink into any character imaginable including photos. These build up shapes from small building blocks of material in very much the same way.
It is perhaps helpful to consider these machines as a bit like 3-dimensional ink jet colour printers. These build combinations of dots of ink into any character imaginable including photos. These build up shapes from small building blocks of material in very much the same way.
Making Money from Crime
In the past this blog has mentioned meetings of the Second Tuesday Club which holds meetings in Manchester. I should have mentioned that there is also a Last Tuesday Club which meets regularly in London. Linda Oakley of Ideas 21 appears to run both. I have not actually been to a Last Tuesday Club talk (though I have been to two other events in the Smoke organized by Linda) and they have both been very interesting.
It appears that the London meetings are very much like the Manchester ones except that the London ones are free. There is a talk in the Patent Office after which everybody slopes off to "The Witness Box" just up the road. I may have spent a little too long in that establishment in my first 6 months pupillage in common law chambers because I never took to crime, personal injuries or divorce law. That may explain why I now do IP.
Appropriately, tonight's talk is on crime - "Making Money from Crime" to be exact. The speakers include Deborah Leary and Lorraine Gamman as well as patent agent Richard Gallafent. If you want to come, call Linda 020 8780 9017 or email her at events@ideas21.co.uk. Advance booking is essential for security reasons.
I had intended to go to the Last Tuesday meeting after Smith & Williamson's seminar on "The commercial implications for SMEs of owning intellectual property - How to identify, value, exploit and protect intellectual property" at the Institute of Child Health between 12:30 and 18:30 today which looks really good, but professional commitments and distance render that impossible. If anybody wants more info, call Julie Barlin Tel - 020 8492 8600 julie.barlin@smith.williamson.co.uk.
It appears that the London meetings are very much like the Manchester ones except that the London ones are free. There is a talk in the Patent Office after which everybody slopes off to "The Witness Box" just up the road. I may have spent a little too long in that establishment in my first 6 months pupillage in common law chambers because I never took to crime, personal injuries or divorce law. That may explain why I now do IP.
Appropriately, tonight's talk is on crime - "Making Money from Crime" to be exact. The speakers include Deborah Leary and Lorraine Gamman as well as patent agent Richard Gallafent. If you want to come, call Linda 020 8780 9017 or email her at events@ideas21.co.uk. Advance booking is essential for security reasons.
I had intended to go to the Last Tuesday meeting after Smith & Williamson's seminar on "The commercial implications for SMEs of owning intellectual property - How to identify, value, exploit and protect intellectual property" at the Institute of Child Health between 12:30 and 18:30 today which looks really good, but professional commitments and distance render that impossible. If anybody wants more info, call Julie Barlin Tel - 020 8492 8600 julie.barlin@smith.williamson.co.uk.
Our Man in Qatar
Our good friend, Paul Field, formerly with Huddersfield University, has just taken up an appointment with Qatar Science and Technology Park. The website describes the park as "a home for technology-based companies from around the world, and an incubator of start-up technology enterprises." Its aim is to spur the development of Qatar's knowledge economy, by providing the ideal location for companies to develop technologies and deliver them to the marketplace. We all wish him the very best of British and/or Qatari luck.
Huddersfield has already got a number of links with the region through Nadio Granata's office in Dubai and indeed Alex Khan of these chambers. We hope to build on that connection with this very dynamic part of the world.
Huddersfield has already got a number of links with the region through Nadio Granata's office in Dubai and indeed Alex Khan of these chambers. We hope to build on that connection with this very dynamic part of the world.
26 September 2005
Escape from the Dragons' Den
Manchester Inventors' Group
Central Reference Library in St. Peter’s Square, Manchester
Tuesday 4 Oct 2005 18:00
Nick Rawcliffe, one of the more successful inventors on the programme, will address the Manchester Inventors Group next Tuesday on what it is like to stand before the Dragons. He will also give some tips on getting your product to market.
Even without his TV appearance, Nick has a pretty remarkable life story. He worked as a mechanical engineer for the Ministry of Defence, took an MA in Design at the Royal College of Art, worked at Bauhaus in Germany and in Japan.
The Manchester Inventors Group in partnership with Manchester Central Library is a group that aims to help local inventors by providing the right information and sharing experiences.
The group meets on a monthly basis to discuss ideas, listen to talks by keynote speakers, brainstorming sessions, receive help from various support agencies and take part in workshop sessions. In addition, the meetings are a good opportunity to meet likeminded people.
Admission is free to attend. Further information from Chris Brown on 0161 234 1397 email c.brown1@manchester.gov.uk.
Yorkshire Pride
Anyone who you saw that wonderful film "Calendar Girls" will remember the encomium to Yorkshire womanhood by Annie's husband right at the start. As a resident of that great county, the son of a Yorkshire woman and a husband of a now adopted Yorkshire woman (albeit of slightly more southerly origin) I agree with every single word.
I wouldn't dare otherwise, would I. It is therefore with some considerable pride that I see that Sheffield Hallam and Bradford College have joined with the Open University and Cambridge to set up a website for Women in Science Engineering and Technology (SET). This website is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry as part of their Strategy for Women in SET and includes statistics, information for employers, mentoring information and much more. The website is backed up with a team of people at the Resource Centre in Bradford offering information and assistance through our enquiry form or help line.
While on the subject of Bradford, NIPC would like to congratulate Neil Johnson of University knowledge transfer department on his retirement and wish his successor, Lynsey Grieveson, every success.
I wouldn't dare otherwise, would I. It is therefore with some considerable pride that I see that Sheffield Hallam and Bradford College have joined with the Open University and Cambridge to set up a website for Women in Science Engineering and Technology (SET). This website is funded by the Department of Trade and Industry as part of their Strategy for Women in SET and includes statistics, information for employers, mentoring information and much more. The website is backed up with a team of people at the Resource Centre in Bradford offering information and assistance through our enquiry form or help line.
While on the subject of Bradford, NIPC would like to congratulate Neil Johnson of University knowledge transfer department on his retirement and wish his successor, Lynsey Grieveson, every success.
24 September 2005
Patent Office Opinions
One of the provisions in the Patents Act 2004 intended to assist individual inventors and patentees is s.13. This section provides for a senior hearing officer to determine whether a patent is valid and/or whether it has been infringed upon a reference by any interested party for the very modest fee of £200. It is a type of ADR and I think it could be as useful a tool to inventors as the UDRP is to brand owners.
This new procedure comes into force on 1 Oct 2005 by virtue of The Patents Act 2004 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2005. The Patent Office has a new "Commencement" page on the topic with links to guidance notes and other information explaining the procedure. Applications will be made on a new form which is not yet on the Patent Office website supported but which should be up later this week with a supporting statement. The procedure is intended to be user friendly so it may not always be necessary to instruct counsel, patent agents or solicitors, but, even where professional assistance is advisable, it ought not to cost very much.
I have already had my first enquiries about settling (barrister talk for "preparing") supporting statements one of which is likely to turn into firm instructions later in the week. I will keep you all posted. Finally, for those who want to learn more. Peter Hayward of the Patent Office and Ian Lewis of Miller Insurance will be speaking on the topic at BPP Law School in Leeds on 24 Nov 2005 at 18:00. Admission is free upon application to Jonathan Haines Tel +44 (0) 845 678 6868, The school can only accommodate 150 in the lecture theatre and tickets will be allocated first come, first served.
This new procedure comes into force on 1 Oct 2005 by virtue of The Patents Act 2004 (Commencement No. 3 and Transitional Provisions) Order 2005. The Patent Office has a new "Commencement" page on the topic with links to guidance notes and other information explaining the procedure. Applications will be made on a new form which is not yet on the Patent Office website supported but which should be up later this week with a supporting statement. The procedure is intended to be user friendly so it may not always be necessary to instruct counsel, patent agents or solicitors, but, even where professional assistance is advisable, it ought not to cost very much.
I have already had my first enquiries about settling (barrister talk for "preparing") supporting statements one of which is likely to turn into firm instructions later in the week. I will keep you all posted. Finally, for those who want to learn more. Peter Hayward of the Patent Office and Ian Lewis of Miller Insurance will be speaking on the topic at BPP Law School in Leeds on 24 Nov 2005 at 18:00. Admission is free upon application to Jonathan Haines Tel +44 (0) 845 678 6868, The school can only accommodate 150 in the lecture theatre and tickets will be allocated first come, first served.
22 September 2005
Mike Keenan - 1% Inspiration 99% Perspiration
The Second Tuesday, Manchester's other inventors club, is meeting at The Cube on Tuesday, 11 October 6.00 pm. The speaker will be Mike Keenan and the title of his talk is "1% Inspiration 99% Perspiration".
Admission costs £15 for members and £20 for non-members. Food and drink at
at RAIN Bar, 80 Great Bridgewater Street are included in the fee. To register on line visit http://www.ideas21.co.uk/Event_Detail/502
or call 020 8780 9017 and ask for Linda.
Admission costs £15 for members and £20 for non-members. Food and drink at
at RAIN Bar, 80 Great Bridgewater Street are included in the fee. To register on line visit http://www.ideas21.co.uk/Event_Detail/502
or call 020 8780 9017 and ask for Linda.
Beta Technology
Bob and Brian were not the only ones with tips for inventors at Leeds yesterday. Bronwen Hageman, project manager of Beta Technology also got up to say a few words.
Her company was set up by Dr Bob Keown OBE, sometime lecturer in metallurgy at Sheffield University, in 1984. Beta has had an impressive portfolio of customers including British Steel, the National Physical Laboratory and several government departments. Its services include assisting applicants for European research and development funding and providing innovation services to companies to help them develop, promote and acquire new technologies. Beta is the designated UK National Contact Point (NCP) for a number of areas of FP6 including SMEs, Life Sciences and Research and Innovation.
Beta's head office is in Doncaster and it has branches elsewhere in the North.
Bronwen is a chemistry and biology graduate of Sheffield Hallam with experience of environmental analysis and scientific instrument sales as well as consultancy. Sadly, she said she was leaving Beta. We all wish her every success wherever she is going to.
Her company was set up by Dr Bob Keown OBE, sometime lecturer in metallurgy at Sheffield University, in 1984. Beta has had an impressive portfolio of customers including British Steel, the National Physical Laboratory and several government departments. Its services include assisting applicants for European research and development funding and providing innovation services to companies to help them develop, promote and acquire new technologies. Beta is the designated UK National Contact Point (NCP) for a number of areas of FP6 including SMEs, Life Sciences and Research and Innovation.
Beta's head office is in Doncaster and it has branches elsewhere in the North.
Bronwen is a chemistry and biology graduate of Sheffield Hallam with experience of environmental analysis and scientific instrument sales as well as consultancy. Sadly, she said she was leaving Beta. We all wish her every success wherever she is going to.
Leeds Inventors Group: from Strength to Strength
We had a really good turnout for Brian Corbett and Bob Middleton at the Leeds Inventors Club yesterday. They unveiled their training course for inventors and gave plenty of tips on licensing, product development, funding, marketing and distribution.
The Leeds Club is now well and truly established. We now have our own website thanks to Ged Doonan. We meet every Wednesday on the top floor of Central Library at 6pm. We have a full programme with Peter Bissell, author of "A Better Mousetrap" and "The Business of Invention" on 19 Oct 2005, Terry Singleton and Clayton Roudette on 16 Nov 2005 and Dr Barry Stoddart of P & G on 21 Dec 2005.
The Inventors Group is only one of many services of the Business and Business Services of Leeds Central Library. There is also a regular patent clinic staffed by local patent agents.
The Leeds Club is now well and truly established. We now have our own website thanks to Ged Doonan. We meet every Wednesday on the top floor of Central Library at 6pm. We have a full programme with Peter Bissell, author of "A Better Mousetrap" and "The Business of Invention" on 19 Oct 2005, Terry Singleton and Clayton Roudette on 16 Nov 2005 and Dr Barry Stoddart of P & G on 21 Dec 2005.
The Inventors Group is only one of many services of the Business and Business Services of Leeds Central Library. There is also a regular patent clinic staffed by local patent agents.
19 September 2005
US Patent Office to answer Inventors' Questions online
We all owe Ilanah Simon of IPKat a debt of gratitutde for this one. She has pointed out an online question and answer session by US Patents and Trademark Office officials for inventors worldwide at 13:30 EST (apprximately 18:30 BDT). Ilanah says this is a great oppoprtunity and judging by the transcripts from previous sessions which are available on the USPTO website, I think she is right.
15 September 2005
Help for Inventors in Ireland
In our other blog I mentioned a very interesting debate on whether there is any point in obtaining patent and other IPR protection for this country in IPR-Talk. This morning we had a very interesting contribution form an Irish commercial lawyer called Peppe Santoro. Peppe mentioned some of the tax concessions that are offered to inventors in the Republic of Ireland.
He and one of the partners of his firm had written a very interesting article entitled "Tax Exemption on Income derived from Patent Royalties." which he distributed to the list which can be downloaded by clicking here. There is other good stuff on his firm's website. I particularly enjoyed the article on ADR.
He and one of the partners of his firm had written a very interesting article entitled "Tax Exemption on Income derived from Patent Royalties." which he distributed to the list which can be downloaded by clicking here. There is other good stuff on his firm's website. I particularly enjoyed the article on ADR.
12 September 2005
PatentScope
The WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization), the UN specialist agency for intellectual property has published a new Patent and Patent Co-operation Treaty website called "PatentScope". There is a lot of useful information on that site not only for inventors but for those who want to keep abreast of developments in technology.
For a start the "PCT Gazette" is now online. This periodical contains information about all new applications received that month. Another useful journal is the PCT Newsletter with information about the patent and utility model; protection available in each country. There is some basic information for applicants as well as more detailed stuff for IP practitioners. There is a facility for registering for email updates.
For a start the "PCT Gazette" is now online. This periodical contains information about all new applications received that month. Another useful journal is the PCT Newsletter with information about the patent and utility model; protection available in each country. There is some basic information for applicants as well as more detailed stuff for IP practitioners. There is a facility for registering for email updates.
Manchester Inventors Group Website
Steve Mansfield has put together a really good site at http://uk.geocities.com/manchesterinventors/ for Manchester Inventors with links to our blog and Jobling & Knape's website.
Good luck Steve!
Good luck Steve!
11 September 2005
Innovact Conference Rheims 4 - 5 Oct 2005
In my last post I mentioned the US Patent and Trademark Office's Independent Inventors Conference. Something along similar lines is about to take place very much closer to home. Innovact (the European forum for innovative growth companies) will hold its 10th annual meeting in Rheims on 4 and 5 Oct 2005.
Around 200 innovative European projects are to be showcased at this event to 4,000 visitors from 18 countries including 18 venture capitalists. There will also be an exhibition with 200 stands, networking, 40 talks and workshops.
Attendance and exhibition fees seem very reasonable.
Around 200 innovative European projects are to be showcased at this event to 4,000 visitors from 18 countries including 18 venture capitalists. There will also be an exhibition with 200 stands, networking, 40 talks and workshops.
Attendance and exhibition fees seem very reasonable.
US Patent and Trade Mark Office helps Independent Inventors
One thing that our own Patent Office would do well to consider is a resources page for independent inventors. The US Patent and Trade Mark Office (USPTO) has one and very good it is too.
The home page describes the role of the USPTO and its history. The index page contains basic information about patents (which in the USA are available for designs and plant varieties as well as inventions), copyrights and trade marks (spelt as one word in US dialect). There is a links panel to some useful downloadable brochures and a complaints button for invention promotion companies. It's good to know that they are doing something about this problem over there, especially since many of the invention promotion companies operating here are based in the USA. Similar information is available on our Patent Office website but it is spread over several pages and you have to know your way around that site to use it to best advantage.
Another thing that our Patent Office could consider is an independent inventors' conference. They have just held their tenth at the USPTO's head office. The cost was very reasonable (US$90 about £50 in real money) with a US$10 (£5.50) discount for those over 55. Very interesting it looked too.
The home page describes the role of the USPTO and its history. The index page contains basic information about patents (which in the USA are available for designs and plant varieties as well as inventions), copyrights and trade marks (spelt as one word in US dialect). There is a links panel to some useful downloadable brochures and a complaints button for invention promotion companies. It's good to know that they are doing something about this problem over there, especially since many of the invention promotion companies operating here are based in the USA. Similar information is available on our Patent Office website but it is spread over several pages and you have to know your way around that site to use it to best advantage.
Another thing that our Patent Office could consider is an independent inventors' conference. They have just held their tenth at the USPTO's head office. The cost was very reasonable (US$90 about £50 in real money) with a US$10 (£5.50) discount for those over 55. Very interesting it looked too.
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