CIPA Guide to the Patents Acts 6th edition

Description: BOOK REVIEW

CIPA GUIDE TO THE PATENTS ACTS, 6th edition Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys

Editors: Stephen Jones and Paul Cole

Consultant Editor, Alan White

Sweet & Maxwell

ISBN: 978-0-421-95740-4

www.sweetandmaxwell.co.uk

‘USEFUL AND INTELLIGENT’ – THE DEFINITIVE WORK ON HOW PATENT LAW IS CONSTRUCTED

An appreciation by Phillip Taylor MBE and Elizabeth Taylor of Richmond Green Chambers

When faced with a question of patent law or practice, this is 1,500 pages to which you turn, whether you are a patent attorney, solicitor, barrister or other practitioner, particularly in IP. It’s the first new edition of the work known to practitioners as ‘The Black Book’ since publication of the fifth edition in 2001 and has been long awaited.

As explained in the preface to this monumental and authoritative work of reference, the 5th edition covered the further important changes made by three sets of Amendment Rules in 1999 which were followed by further changes in the Act and Rules to meet the implementation of the European Biotechnology Directive. New in the present edition are the implications of the Patents Act 2004 and EPC 2000. Also incorporated is the completely revised form of the Rules in the Patents Rules 2007.

An interesting perspective on the evolution of and the significance of The Black Book is offered in the Foreword by Jacob, LJ writing ‘scholarly thought and erudite writing was for others’, he points out, ’not patent agents’ who tended to be viewed by themselves as well as others as ‘rude mechanicals’. ‘The patent agents of yore could not have produced the Black Book,’ he adds. ‘Only with the advent of the patent agent/scholar was it possible’.

The current Black Book has been produced by a team of just such scholars and as remarked by Jacob, ‘it is good to see them working with other members of the IP profession.’

In response to the surge of inventions and inventiveness characteristic of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, (which stand of the shoulders of the inventions of the 19th century, of course) it is not surprising that the profession of patent attorney has come of age. As Sweet & Maxwell say, this 6th edition of the Black Book offers thorough and practical coverage of the current legislation and case law in this increasingly complex field. It’s an essential guide containing all the tools needed to protect the rights of your clients.

In addition to a comprehensive perspective of the law with reference to hundreds of key case decisions, there is detailed commentary on the current law and practice under the Patents Act 1977, the Patent Office Rules 2007 and subsequent amendments. Relevant sections of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 are analysed.

There is new coverage on a number of key areas including supplementary Protection Certificates, patent office opinions, restorations, entitlement and inventorship. There is thorough examination of other recent major developments including computer software patentability, biotechnological inventions, pharmaceuticals, industrial application and medical treatment.

As Jacob observes that the future looks exciting. “Those who do not want to get lost as they enter that future had better get the Black Book.” he concludes, and how right he is!

ISBN: 978-0-421-95740-4

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU_o1eLDyCI