Patents for Business Methods, Software Whether software and business methods are patentable or not is a hot topic, on 13 March the High Ct gave the first judgments on the issue since Aerotel and Macrossan, Cappellini's application was for a new algorithm which determined routes a carrier should take when delivering packages, Bloomberg's was for a data distribution method 07.05.07 Eversheds, EU Software Patent, Patent Law

Patent Litigation Insurance Following the publication of the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property the issue of a workable patent litigation insurance scheme has returned to the legal and political agenda, desire to encourage more successful patent applications ensures it will not shift until the situation is addressed 23.04.07 Law Now, Gowers Review, Insurance, Litigation, Patent Law

Macrossan May Re-Apply to Lords President of EPO has refused to answer questions put by Lord Jacob arising from Macrossan Application, on grounds there is 'insufficient legal basis for a referral', Macrossan, refused patent for 'business method', may re-apply for leave to appeal to the Lords 12.04.07 Eversheds, Aerotel v Telco, EU Software Patent, Patent Law

New Powers to Fight Counterfeiting Trading standards officers have new powers to tackle counterfeiting and piracy crime come into force today, test purchases, enter premises and inspect and seize goods and documents, IP Crime Group will coordinate through newly renamed UK Intellectual Property Office 10.04.07 IPO Press Release, Copyright, Counterfeit Goods, Gowers Review, Retail Law, Trading Standards

Diddy Website Directed at UK The US pop star Sean 'Puffy' Combs (aka 'Puffy' and 'P Diddy'), who changed his name to 'Diddy' in 2005, was found to have infringed earlier rights in the name owned by Mr Dearlove, also known as 'Diddy', judgment was awarded to Mr Dearlove in respect of certain website and lyric-related aspects of the claim, other control-related aspects reserved for full trial 24.03.07 Clintons, Entertainment Law, Internet Regulation, Trademark

Copyright on Video Games Appeal Ct has refused appeal in Nova Productions v Mazooma Games and Bell Fruit Games [2007] EWCA Civ 219 (reported 14 March), the Court found that, although there had been copying, it was 'just too general to amount to a substantial part' of Nova's game 22.03.07 Clintons, Copyright, Entertainment Law, Information Technology

Value of Sports Data Rights Despite an ECJ ruling that its database enjoyed no intellectual property rights, the British Horseracing Board (BHB) continued to seek revenues from its data and in the case of Attheraces Limited (ATR) it did so aggressively 03.03.07 Michael Simkins, Competition Law, Sports Law

Appeal Against BlackBerry Rejected The English Court of Appeal has upheld rejection of Inpro claim against RIM and T-Mobile (UK) that the BlackBerry infringed one of its patents, the patent was revoked as being obvious over prior art and the judge's refusal to allow the patent to be amended (the amended claims also being obvious) was also upheld 20.02.07 Eversheds, Mobile Telecoms, Patent Law

Traps in Gowers Gowers Review of intellectual property upset much of the music community by failing to suggest that the term of copyright in sound recordings should become aligned with US law, but there is more to Gowers than this 08.01.07 Michael Simkins, Copyright, Gowers Review

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