That Milan will host the third and final available UPC Central Division seat seems inevitable. However, according to a recent report in Italian business paper Il Sole 24 Ore, present discussions have developed to focus on the proposed distribution of the International Patent Classification (IPC) classes between the three central locations, the other two of which are Paris and Munich.

David Kitchin has announced his retirement from the Supreme Court and thus the UK judiciary, where he had presided over a variety of cases at different instances, including FRAND and transgenic mouse technology. Kitchin, who began his career as a barrister, has been a judge since 2005. Now the Lord Chancellor is looking to fill the vacant position, after the legal year ends in September.

In an announcement published by the country’s Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the government of Ireland has reaffirmed its commitment to holding a public referendum on participation in the Unified Patent Court. If it goes ahead, it will allow the UPC to create a local division in the Irish capital of Dublin.

On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. Ongoing loss of human life and resources notwithstanding, the current military operations are diminishing Ukrainian business while throwing industry into turmoil. Europe’s patent market, including the European Patent Office, continues to offer support to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.

National politics is the purview of a select number of influential people. Yet, the public affairs and lobbying industry that supports its communications, campaigns and public relations is essential in the UK. Amy Sandys analyses how that industry has changed, thereby changing the nature of political influence itself.

On 23 June 2016, Great Britain voted to leave the European Union. The news came as a shock to the population at large, with pollsters and pundits predicting until the very last minute that the Remain camp would prevail. And Britain was divided, by one of the closest-called election results in recent history. In true British spirit, global design and branding agency, Hornall Anderson, chose to turn the national divide into a celebration. 

Charles Kennedy, who lost his Ross, Skye and Lochaber seat for the Liberal Democrats during the 2015 General Election less than one month ago, was found dead at his home on Monday 1st June.

There was speculation in the run-up to the 2015 General Election that UKIP would split the right-wing vote, thereby hindering any chance the Tories had of gaining overall parliamentary control. At one point, the idea of a Tory-UKIP coalition was famously brandished around to the despair of those on the Left, those across the centre, and many more moderate Tories. Yet, this was not the case - it seemed UKIP was able to appeal to voters across the spectrum.