IP insurance: an option worth knowing about

By Iain Russell, Patent Attorney and Director at Russell IP (BSc, CPA, EPA, FRSA — 20 years’ experience in computer-implemented inventions and music technology). IP Insurance: An Option Worth Knowing About A question we are sometimes asked, particularly by those new to patents, is what the point is in having a patent if you cannot afford to enforce it, or to defend an allegation that you infringe someone else’s rights. It is a fair concern: patent disputes can be expensive. One option that some businesses may not be aware of is intellectual property (IP) insurance. Important note: Our expertise is […]

What Does A New UK Government Study Reveal About AI Patents?

By Iain Russell, Patent Attorney and Director at Russell IP (BSc, CPA, EPA, FRSA – 20 years’ experience in computer-implemented inventions and music technology). What Does A New UK Government Study Reveal About AI Patents? Published: September 2026 | Last updated: September 2026 A recent government-backed study in the UK has found that AI-related patent applications rose from 5.2% of all US patent applications filed in 2014 to 20.3% in 2023. In other words, AI patent applications now make up roughly one in five filings in the US. The finding comes from a study called AI Skills for Life and […]

What Does The New IPO Practice Notice Following Emotional Perception Mean For UK Software And AI Patents?

By Iain Russell, Patent Attorney and Director at Russell IP (BSc, CPA, EPA, FRSA – 20 years’ experience in computer-implemented inventions and music technology), and member of the Computer Technology Committee (CTC) of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys. What Does The New IPO Practice Notice Following Emotional Perception Mean For UK Software And AI Patents? Published: September 2026 | Last updated: September 2026 The UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has published a new practice notice, Search and Examination of UK Patent Applications under the Patents Act 1977 (as amended), setting out how examiners should search and examine UK patent […]

What Is A Divisional Patent Application?

By Iain Russell, UK and European Patent Attorney and Director at Russell IP (BSc, CPA, EPA, FRSA — 20 years’ experience in computer-implemented inventions and music technology). What Is A Divisional Patent Application? A Guide For UK And European Patent Applications Published: July 2026 | Last updated: July 2026 If you are a founder, inventor, or part of an early-stage team, you may come across the term divisional patent application while building your patent portfolio. A divisional patent application is a separate application that is split out from one you have already filed, and it can be a useful tool […]

UK Patent Box Tax Relief Explained

By Iain Russell, Patent Attorney and Director at Russell IP – a UK and European Patent Attorney with over 20 years’ experience in patents for technology innovations. Russell IP is regulated by IPReg. What Is The UK Patent Box, And How Can It Save Your Company Tax? Published: July 2026 | Last updated: July 2026 The UK Patent Box is a tax scheme that can reduce the Corporation Tax a company pays on profits from its patented inventions, in some cases to an effective rate of 10%. For a profitable, innovative business, that can be a significant saving – and […]

IP STARS 2026: Russell IP Attorneys Recognised

By Iain Russell, Patent Attorney & Director at Russell IP (BSc, CPA, EPA, FRSA – 20 years’ experience in computer-implemented inventions and music technology). Russell IP Recognised in the IP STARS 2026 Rankings for a Second Year Running Published: July 2026 | Last updated: July 2026 We are delighted to share that two of our patent attorneys, Iain Russell and Emily Teesdale, have been recognised in the IP STARS 2026 rankings as Notable Practitioners. This is the second consecutive year that Russell IP attorneys have featured. IP STARS is an independent guide to leading intellectual property firms and practitioners, published […]

Russell IP Recognised in Financial Times’ Europe’s Leading Patent Law Firms 2026

By Iain Russell, Patent Attorney & Director at Russell IP (BSc, CPA, EPA, FRSA – 20 years’ experience in computer-implemented inventions, AI, telecommunications and music technology). Published: June 2026 Last updated: June 2026 We are delighted to share that Russell IP has been independently recognised in the Financial Times’ Europe’s Leading Patent Law Firms 2026. This is a survey-based ranking of patent attorney firms across Europe, compiled by the Financial Times in partnership with the research company Statista. For a boutique firm focused on technology innovations – including AI, machine learning, computer-implemented inventions, telecommunications, and music technology – being named […]

Software Patent Drawings Explained

By Iain Russell, Patent Attorney and Director at Russell IP (BSc, CPA, EPA, FRSA – 20 years’ experience in computer-implemented inventions and music technology). What Drawings Do Software Patents Typically Include? Published: June 2026 | Last updated: June 2026 Software patent applications often rely heavily on drawings to explain how an invention works. The types of software patent drawings used can look quite different from those in mechanical or chemical cases, mainly because the invention is usually a process or a system rather than a physical object you can show in physical form. At Russell IP, we specialise in protecting […]

Iain Russell Recognised As The Most Influential UK-Based IP Attorney On LinkedIn

We are delighted to share that Russell IP founder and director Iain Russell has been ranked the most influential UK-based IP attorney on LinkedIn, and third overall in the world, in the 2025/26 Legal LinkedInfluencers, IP Attorneys Edition. It is genuinely flattering recognition. Perhaps more importantly, it helps shine a light on what smaller, boutique IP practices can offer alongside the much larger firms in the IP profession. In this short post, we’ll cover what the report said, the headline numbers, and what it means for our clients. Key Takeaways Iain Russell was ranked number three globally and number one […]

Russell IP Rockception 2026: Music, Innovation & IP

By Iain Russell, Patent Attorney & Director at Russell IP (BSc, CPA, EPA, FRSA – 20 years’ experience in computer-implemented inventions and music technology). Published: 14 May 2026 Last updated: 14 May 2026 On 5 May 2026, we hosted Rockception 2026 at The World’s End in Camden – an informal evening that brought together clients, colleagues and contacts from across the IP and music technology worlds. The brief was simple: skip the corporate formality, lean into the music, and create space for genuine conversations between people who don’t usually share a room. This post is a short recap of the […]