From 7 April 2008 it will be possible for the first time to file "fast track" trade mark applications in the UK. This development is as a result of the Trade Marks and Trade Marks (Fees) (Amendment) Rules 2008 which come into force in April.

Ahead of London Fashion Week (10 – 16 February 2008), the world’s leading fashion houses should be doing more to protect their new collections, according to Withers & Rogers, a top ten UK firm of patent and trademark attorneys.

The EPO recently flagged forthcoming changes to the fee regime for European Patent Applications but what do the changes mean for the practitioner and patent applicant?

As we have previously reported (see our earlier article) the London Agreement will significantly reduce patenting costs in Europe by reducing the post-grant translational requirements in many European countries.