MACIPO & ASSOCIATES has extensive experience of representing clients at the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office, European Patent Office, and OHIM, the European Community Trademarks and Designs Office, not only for the filing and prosecuting of patent and trademark applications but also in opposition and appeal proceedings for both domestic and overseas clients. Our United Kingdom and European offices enables our patent and trademark professionals to maintain regular contact with examiners at the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office, European Patent Office, and OHIM, the European Community Trademarks and Designs Office by attending interviews, opposition proceedings and appeals.

The firm provides comprehensive services in most technical fields as well as specialised expertise in computer technology, optics, telecommunications, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and other areas with solicitors who specialise in intellectual property offer professional advice on patent validity and infringement and can supervise both offensive and defensive litigation in the Patent Office and Patents County Court and patent and trademark professionals throughout the other European countries and around the world. The firm has extensive experience of representing clients, not only for the filing and prosecuting of patent applications but also in opposition and appeal proceedings for both domestic and overseas clients.

US Patents

The basic criteria for patentability in the United States are that an invention is new and non obvious. Typically, the patent pending phase can last from eighteen months to four years. Once granted, US patents have a maximum term of twenty years from the filing date and maintenance fees are payable at periods of three and a half, seven and a half, and eleven and a half years from grant. We obtain US patents via our network of associate US patent attorneys and agents.

China

Chinese patents can be obtained for inventions which are new and involve an inventive step. The Chinese patent system can be accessed either by direct filing at the Chinese Patent Office via our Chinese associate US patent attorneys and agents, or at the end of an international patent application as a Chinese national phase filing. The maximum term for the Chinese patents is twenty years from the filing date, subject of payment of renewal fees. Further type of patent, a utility model, has a ten-year term and the criteria for patentability are lower than for a patent for invention. We routinely obtain granted patents in China on behalf of our clients, through applications filed at the Chinese patent office via our local Chinese associates.

Japan

Japanese patents can be obtained for inventions which are new and involve an inventive step. The Japanese patent system can be accessed either by direct filing at the Japanese Patent Office via our Japanese associate patent attorney firms, or at the end of an international patent application as a Japanese national phase filing. The maximum term for the Japanese patents is twenty years from the filing date, subject of payment of renewal fees.

Other Countries and Regions

We can obtain patent protection in any country or region of the world, either directly, or via our network of foreign associates. In general, most countries allow patents for inventions which are new and involve an inventive step and do not fall within a type of subject matter which is excluded by national law or policy reasons. The level of search and examination varies from country to country, with some countries having a more rigorous and thorough procedure than others, and time scales to grant vary between a few months to up to ten years, depending on the specific country.