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© Hutchinson IP Ltd, 2012

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Updates…

Patent Box

27 March 2013.

HMRC is introducing a new Corporation Tax reduction scheme, called the Patent Box, which comes into effect from  1 April 2013.  Read more about this here.

Vacancies

September 13 2012.

Due to increasing workload, we have positions available for fully-qualified patent and trade mark attorneys at our office in Southport, Merseyside.  

This is a fantastic opportunity for enthusiastic self-starters who want responsibility from day one, a generous profit-share remuneration scheme and real partnership potential.

To find out more about this opportunity, just click here, or contact Tom Hutchinson in strictest confidence.

New online services

September 2 2012.

We have just added some online enquiry pages, which can be accessed via the "online services" tab at the top of this page.  This facility enables you to make a secure, confidential enquiry, to which we'll respond as soon as we can.  Whether you need advice, a price or something else, we're sure you'll be amazed by our speed and quality of service. There is no obligation to proceed, just free initial advice on tap.

UKIPO patent examination delays

June 18 2012.

We have recently been informed that the UK Patent Office's backlog of work is such that ordinary UK patent applications are taking up to 42 months from filing/priority to be examined.  This is acceptable if the main purpose of the application is to serve as a deterrent to would-be competitors.  However, if you want or need your patent to be examined more quickly, then you can request combined search and examination at the outset or "Green Channel" processing (if the subject matter relates to "green" technology), both of which options are likely to yeild an office action within weeks or months of filing.  Otherwise, you can request accelerated processing if there are sound reasons for doing so.  We are experts in "green channel" applications and you can find out more here.

We're now offering fixed-fee trade mark registrations

June 13 2012.

Hutchinson IP is pleased to announce that it now offers trade mark registration services.  A businesses trade mark is probably one of its most important assets - it's how customers distinguish between different suppliers of the same or similar goods and services.  Registered trade marks enable right holders to stop others from making use of their marks in a way that might divert trade or cause damage.  As with everything we do, we offer trade mark registration services on a fixed-fee basis and we'd be more than happy to advise you.

Matched grant funding for Lancashire-based companies

March 13 2012.

If your business is based in Lancashire, then you may qualify for matched EU funding towards the cost of innovation.  Regenerate Pennine Lancashire are able to offer matched grant funding up to £10,000 (£5,000 being provided by the applicant, and £5,000 being provided from EU funds) towards the cost of developing and commercialising innovative products and processes.  The funding can be used to pay for product development, consultancy, prototyping, market analysis and, of course, the cost of IP protection.

Hutchinson IP Ltd has already worked with a number of clients to help them secure funding through the scheme, which involved us providing detailed costings and (one of the requisite three) quotations for the "IP services" elements of their bids.  We also provided detailed up-front advice on IP issues, filing strategies and procedural matters to help explain how IP could be of commercial benefit as part of an overall marketing/commercialisation plan.  For information on how Hutchinson IP can help, please feel free to contact us, free of charge and without obligation.

Details of the scheme itself, the qualification criteria and other requirements can be obtained by contacting Regenerate Pennine Lancashire directly.

Keep off the grass patent strategies

February 10 2012.

We have just uploaded a paper on using patents to deter would-be competitors.  It can be downloaded here.

In many situations, businesses have great ideas with huge commercial potential. However, not all ideas can be protected using patents, in particular, ideas relating to certain types of digital or creative technology, certain web-based technology, or ideas relating to new ways of doing business. Even though such ideas may be inherently patentable, there may, nevertheless, be good reasons for applying for patent protection, to deter would-be competitors and to create uncertainty.

New briefing paper added on the pros and cons of searching

October 14 2011.

A question we are frequently asked is “should an inventor carry out any searching prior to filing a patent application?” Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question because so much depends on the particular circumstances. This article, which can be downloaded as a pdf document, aims to highlight the main issues involved, to set out the pros and cons, and to provide some constructive assistance.