Industry News - Company and Commercial Law - Patent protection for software development

12/03/2010
Stonemason companies urged to adhere to personal injury employment law
Stonework companies in the London area have been urged to ensure they have appropriate health and safety measures in place to prevent personal injury in the workplace.

12/03/2010
Tribunal makes ruling on holiday leave pay
An employment tribunal has made a ruling which experts believe could open the floodgates for more claims from employees.

11/03/2010
Farmer's amended will overturned by judge's decision
A judge has made a ruling that will see the second will drawn up by an elderly farmer overturned in favour of an earlier document.

11/03/2010
Police female recruitment drive 'is discriminating against men'
A police drive to recruit more women could have a discriminatory effect on men, it has been claimed.

11/03/2010
Men 'are more likely to become insolvent than women'
New figures have revealed that men are more likely to require the use of an insolvency lawyer than women.

Industry News

10/10/2008
Patent protection for software development

Technology companies will find it easier to safeguard their innovations in the UK after a court ruled that software should receive wider patent protection.

The Court of Appeal said today (October 10th) that complex software such as programmes designed to make mobile phones and computers work faster can be patented in the UK.

Previously, manufacturers could claim commercial exclusivity for their products under copyright laws but had less legal protection for underlying technical processes.

As a result of the ruling, developers are likely to find it easier to secure approval from the UK’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO), which has traditionally been reluctant to grant patents to cover software.

In related news, a non-profit consultancy, Innovation Partnership, has warned that scientific research is being stifled by "blocking patents" and the company has called for an urgent reform of the system.

According to Innovation Partnership, vital information sharing which could help propel scientific advances into cancer medicine is being thwarted because of the current system. ADNFCR-1805-ID-18821156-ADNFCR

18/01/2010
Public house portfolios 'could expand in 2011'
Next year will be the best time for an expansion of portfolios of public house properties, it has been suggested.

06/01/2010
New business start-ups 'higher in 2009'
Last year is likely to have seen more business start-ups in the UK than in 2008, it has been suggested.

02/12/2009
Warning for businesses may raise insolvency issues
Banks are still substantially disconnected from businesses despite the efforts of the government, it has been claimed.

01/12/2009
Banks pledge to support firms as insolvency threat remains
NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland have issued a pledge that they will do more to support small businesses.

30/11/2009
Warning to get balance right on internships
New regulation on the use of interns in firms may go a long way to avoiding undue exploitation, it has been suggested.

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