NIPC Law

Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Author NIAID   Licence CC BY 2.0   Source    Wikimedia Commons   Jane Lambert Patents Court (Mr Justice Mellor)  Pfizer Ltd v GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA and another 2024] EWHC 2523 (Pat) (07 Oct 202 4) Pfizer Ltd v GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA and anothe r [2025] EWHC 52 (Pat) (16 Jan 2025) This was a claim by Pfizer Ltd. ("Pfizer")  for the revocation of  EP (UK) 3 109 258 ("258") and EP (UK) 2 222 710 ("710")  under s.72 (1) (a)  of the Patents Act 1977 on the grounds that the inventions for which those patents were granted were not patentable.  The patents were held by  GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA  and  ID Biomedical Corporation of Quebec  (collectively "GSK").   The reason for the litigation was that both Pfizer and GSK had developed vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus ("RSV")  that were about to receive marketing approval in the UK....

Representation of the Registered Design Crown Copyright  Open Government Licence   Jane Lambert Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (HH Judge Hacon) Barber v Wakefield and others [2024] EWHC 3058 (IPEC) (28  Nov 2024) This was a claim for the infringement of UK registered design number 4028780 for a locksmith's letterbox tool handle.  A representation of the design appears above,  His Honour Judge Hacon who tried the action said that it was the design of a tool to be manipulated through the letterbox of a front door to open the door without a key.  Typically the tool is used to assist individuals who are locked out of their homes though, as the judge remarked at para [21] of his judgment in Barber v Wakefield and others [2024] EWHC 3058 (IPEC) (28 Nov 2024), other uses could be imagined. Alleged Infringement The proprietor of the registered design alleged that Ultimate Tools Ltd and the individuals who ran that company had infringed his regis...

Jane Lambert Patents Court  (HH Judge Hacon)  Philip Morris Products SA and another v Nicoventures Trading Ltd and another  [2023] EWHC 2616 (Pat) (25 Oct 2023) This was a claim by Philip Morris Products SA and Philip Morris Limited ("PMI") for the revocation of European patent (UK) 3 367 830 B1  ("EP830") and a counterclaim by Nicoventures Trading Limited and British American Tobacco (Investments)  Limited ("BAT") for the infringement of that patent.  There was also an application by BAT to amend the patent and an application by PMI for an Arrow declaration. These proceedings came on for trial before His Honour Judge Hacon sitting as a judge of the High Court between 21 and 23 and on 27 and 28 Sept, 2023.  The learned judge delivered judgment on 25 Ocr 2023 (see  Philip Morris Products SA and another v Nicoventures Trading Ltd and another [2023] EWHC 2616 (Pat) (25 Oct 2023)). By para [216] of his judgment he dismissed the counterclaim....