The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has published the most recent update to its Manual of Patent Practice, effective from 1 January 2015. The majority of the changes relate to case law, including Teva v AstraZeneca (see Legal update, High Court finds patent for asthma treatment invalid), IPCom v HTC (see Legal update, Court of Appeal discusses effect of Supreme Court Virgin decision on stay pending EPO opposition proceedings) and Actavis v Pharmacia (see Legal update, High Court refuses to stay UK patent revocation proceedings). Changes are also made relating to two EPO appeal board decisions on second medical use (see Legal updates, EPO appeals board gives narrow scope to double patenting prohibition for therapeutic use claims and EPO appeal boards reach differing conclusions on second use claims double patenting).

Source: Changes to Manual of Patent Practice, January 2014.