All articles

OpenAI, a leading player in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, has historically relied on trade secrets to protect its technological advancements. However, recent developments indicate a major strategic shift toward patent protection. We explore the implications of this shift and the potential impact on business, from small startups to large corporations. Read more

An overview of the rules regulating trademark litigation in Norway. Read more

European Patent Attorney Hanne Bonge-Hansen, who passed the dreaded e-EQE in 2021, shares her tips on passing each of papers A-D of the European Qualifying Exam. Read more

Hanne Bonge-Hansen, a patent attorney with a PhD in chemistry and a fondness for academia, makes a case for academic patenting. Read more

The EPO and EUIPO released a new joint study showing startups who protect their IP increase their odds of securing funding by over 1000%. Read more

Trade secrets can be of great value, but effective protection of trade secrets requires an active approach and a clear strategy. In this webinar, Håkon Tysnes Kaasin, an experienced attorney-at-law who specialises in IP and has represented some of the world’s largest brand owners before the Norwegian courts, takes you through the hows, whats, and wheres of trade secrets. Read more

In this article Patent attorney Live Marie Hansen summarizes what you need to know about administrative review at the Norwegian Industrial Property Office. Read more

In this article Patent attorney Fredrik Martinsen summarizes patent claims described in terms of their function, effect or purpose in European patent applications. Read more

This whitepaper provides new app developers with a detailed explanation of how intellectual property can be used to protect their app concept from copycats. It also provides insightful tips and tricks on how to balance registered rights with cost and how to use non-IP based tactics to gain a competitive advantage in the market. Two case studies of successful apps are also presented to demonstrate successful app-based business strategies. Finally, national and international IP cost guidance is provided. Read more

Brows Aarflot's Life Science team, led by Marianne W. Wulff, held a free webinar on freedom to operate along with this spring. The entire webinar is now available below: Read more

An overview of the Norwegian rules regulating trademark prosecution. Read more

An overview of the rules regulating patent prosecution in Norway. Read more

The right to claim priority from a previous application is an important aspect of patent law and was already recognized in the Paris Convention in 1883 (Art. 4 PC). For a European patent application there are several requirements that need to be fulfilled in order to validly claim priority, laid down in Art. 87 – 89 EPC. One of these requirements is the “same invention requirement” of Art. 87(1) EPC, which in short entails that the invention for which priority is claimed must be disclosed in the previous application. Read more

In a hurry? An applicant at the EPO can expect to wait, on average, three to five years from filing before their patent is granted. While some applicants don’t mind the wait, others may be interested in accelerating the procedure towards a more rapid grant. Patent attorney Hanne Bonge-Hansen, PhD, summarises various approaches for getting a European patent quicker. Read more

The 2019 update of the EPO guidelines brought with it a number of notable changes. Hanne Bonge-Hansen, patent attorney with a PhD in organic chemistry, discusses the changes that are particularly important to the life sciences. Read more

Filing and prosecuting a patent application at the EPO progresses through several stages, most of which require the payment of one or more official fees. The official fees are designed to require the applicant to pay for services at the EPO before provision of said service. The following sections will cover official fees for prosecution of an EP application and the available fee reductions. Read more

The Russian government has demonstrated that it will decide on the use of IP rights without the IP holder’s consent and without issuing compensation to the rights holder. A first mechanism for allowing IP infringement, Article 1360, applies to patents, utility models and industrial designs only, whereas a second mechanism, Federal Law No. 46-FZ, applies to IP rights more broadly and includes trademarks. The abuse of rights statute has also been used to deny foreign held rights. Read more

In this article David Molenaar summarizes the newly published EBoA decision G3/19, providing a brief overview of its legal background and some of its implications regarding the patenting of plants and animals obtained by biological processes. David is a part of the patent attorney team at Bryn Aarflot and has previously worked as an examiner at the EPO. Read more

In this article Patent attorney Live Marie Hansen summarizes plant breeder’s right to provide protection of plant varieties. Read more

By 1 July 2021 latest, Norway will have implemented a new Customs Act with simplified procedures related to destruction of consignments containing counterfeit goods. The amendments are intended to bring Norwegian customs control more in line with EU regulations and practice. Read more

European Patent Attorney Hanne Bonge-Hansen, who passed the dreaded e-EQE in 2021, shares her tips on preparing for the European Qualifying Exam. Read more