Artificial intelligence cannot be legally named as an inventor to secure patent rights, the UK supreme court has ruled. In a judgment on Wednesday, Britain’s highest court concluded that “an inventor must be a person” in order to apply for patents under the current law. The ruling comes after the technologist Dr Stephen Thaler took […]
Apple has been forced to stop selling the Apple Watch in the US this week after a landmark lawsuit claimed the tech giant stole technology that monitors users’ vitals. The move comes after an order in October from the International Trade Commission (ITC) that could bar Apple from importing its Apple Watches after finding the […]
The European Union has formally announced it suspects X, previously known as Twitter, of breaching its rules in areas including countering illegal content and disinformation. Digital commissioner Thierry Breton set out the alleged infringements in a post on the social media platform. He said X, which is owned by Elon Musk, was also suspected of […]
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency (ECCT) Act was passed in late October after years of public consultation on tackling economic crime, spurred on by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Act contains measures to stop criminals forming companies in the UK and using them for illegal purposes. It also gives new powers to Companies House […]
The Fourth Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has reversed the refusal of Haribo’s figurative trade mark consisting of an image of its ‘Goldbear’ gummy bear on the basis that the mark does satisfy the minimum degree of distinctiveness. Rigo Trading S.A, a holding company for Haribo, the well-known German […]
With the festive season fast approaching, many employers have already finalised their plans for a staff party. Others may prefer a more spontaneous approach. Either way, there are many legal issues for employers to consider. This is because work-related functions such as Christmas parties and similar events are effectively work activities covered by the same […]
The American taste for litigation is spreading beyond its borders, and it is coming for British small businesses next – this is the key finding of new research by Fair Civil Justice. Fair Civil Justice (FCJ) commissioned quantitative and qualitative research to better understand legal actions against British SMEs and to inform recommendations that mitigate […]
In an ever-evolving business landscape, the welfare of employees continues to be at the forefront of responsible leadership. A recent survey by Pregnant Then Screwed, encompassing the experiences of over 24,000 parents, has revealed the extent of pregnancy and maternity discrimination. The implications for business owners are clear, and understanding the full scope of legal […]
Outsourcing specialist, AdvanceTrack, has won a landmark two-year High Court case against one of its direct competitors, GI Outsourcing, after the latter used its brand unlawfully in a targeted Google Adwords campaign. His Honour Judge James Tindal passed his judgment on the long-running battle between the two outsourcing companies, held at Birmingham Civil Justice Centre, […]
It was Benjamin Franklin who once said “…nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Business owners know only too well the importance of dealing with taxes, but rarely think about or plan for how they will deal with the death of a business partner or shareholder. As a nation, we’re not […]