Category: Events

It was a pleasure to write recently for Music Technology UK (MTUK) on patented inventions that have changed how we make and hear music. As MTUK’s Patents Expert, Russell IP Founder and Director Iain Russell is proud to support MTUK’s work driving recognition of the UK as a global leader in music tech innovation. You can read the full article on the MTUK website here. Iain has previously collaborated with MTUK on hosting a Patents Rock workshop for music-tech innovators. If you are developing a music tech product and would like advice on protecting it, please get in touch with […]

Sarah Connolly, Consultant PA at Russell IP We are delighted to share more details of Sarah Connolly’s work in the Russell IP team as a Consultant Personal Assistant (PA). Sarah has been supporting Russell IP for many years and brings a wealth of experience from previous roles as a senior PA at two of the world’s top luxury hotels. Highly organised and proactive, Sarah supports a wide range of tasks, projects and activities across the firm. For more information, please see Sarah’s profile on the Russell IP website. We’re excited to work with Sarah on more projects in the future.

AI in IP: Potential Risks and Rewards of Using AI in Patent Work Explore potential risks and rewards relating to the use of AI in IP, with insights from Russell IP Founder and Director Iain Russell. Context Welcome to AI in IP, a series of blog posts sharing Iain Russell’s insights into the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) in intellectual property (IP). As Chair of the AI Committee of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA), Iain is a leading voice on how AI can be used in IP. The aim of this series is to highlight how AI can be used […]

Reducing European Patent Costs: Using The EPO Fee Assistant To Explore Fee Reductions Introduction: What Are Patent Official Fees? Applying for a patent is a significant financial investment. Official fees (the fees paid to patent offices) make up part of the total cost. Some patent offices offer official fee reductions to certain applicants. For example, the European Patent Office (EPO) offers several fee reductions in different circumstances. To help users of the European patent system explore some of the available fee reductions and support, the EPO provides an EPO Fee Assistant tool. This article explains how the EPO Fee Assistant […]

What Is A Provisional Patent Application? (And What It Means in the UK) If you’re an inventor, founder or early-stage startup, you may have heard the phrase “provisional patent application”. We’re often asked: “Can you file a provisional patent application for us?”. “Can we file something quickly and then ‘finish it off’ later?”. This is understandable, but the terminology can be unhelpful, especially in the UK. In this post, we’ll explain: What “provisional patent application” formally means in the US. Why the UK patent system doesn’t use the term in the same way. How priority dates work and why your […]

AI in IP: How Clients View AI in Patent Work – Attitudes, Expectations, and Insights from Russell IP Explore how clients view AI in patent work, with insights from Russell IP Founder and Director Iain Russell. Context Welcome to AI in IP, a series of blog posts sharing Iain Russell’s insights into the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) in intellectual property (IP). As Chair of the AI Committee of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA), Iain is a leading voice on how AI can be used in IP. The aim of this series is to highlight how AI can be used […]

Russell IP eBook on UK IPO Excluded Matter Decisions 2025 eBook Now Available for Download! We are pleased to announce the release of Russell IP’s eBook compilation of all the UK Intellectual Property Office’s Decisions on Excluded Matter from 2025. The eBook accompanies the table of Excluded Matter Decisions Russell IP maintains at www.softwarepatents.co.uk and is available for download using the form below. Enter your name, company and email address to receive the eBook and sign up for the Russell IP Newsletter. Background to the UK IPO Excluded Matter eBook The eBook is an unofficial, free-to-download compilation by Russell IP […]

EPO Fee Changes 2026 – What You Need To Know The European Patent Office (EPO) has announced that its official fees (fees paid to the EPO by applicants) will increase from 1 April 2026. These changes will affect a wide range of fees under the European Patent Convention (EPC), including search, examination, grant and renewal fees. Overview Of The EPO Fee Changes 2026 Our calculations suggest that many core EPO fees (including renewal, search, designation, examination and grant fees) will increase by around 5%. Some fees are unchanged (for example, filing fees, additional fees for divisional applications, the opposition fee, […]

Accelerating UK Patent Prosecution at the UK IPO: A Practical Guide Introduction Securing a UK patent is usually a long game. On a normal timetable, a UK patent application remains pending for several years before it is granted or finally refused. In many situations, that slow and steady pace is absolutely fine; it gives time to refine the technology, explore markets and spread costs. In other situations, there’s a need for the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) to move faster. Perhaps a competitor is gearing up to launch a similar product, an investor is asking to see patent grants […]

New Guidance On Generative AI In Patent Work: Essential Reading For Inventors And SMEs The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) and the Intellectual Property Regulation Board (IPReg) have issued new guidance on using generative AI for patent work. In this article, we answer some key questions about the new guidance, and who and what it is for. Why The New CIPA Guidance On Generative AI Matters Generative AI tools are now everywhere. Many inventors and small, innovative businesses are already using them to:  Brainstorm product ideas; Tidy up technical descriptions; Help draft patent-related documents; or Summarise prior art and […]