Intellectual Property Office service issues its 100th opinion to Dyson

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO)¹is celebrating today, reaching a milestone in its Opinions Service for business, by issuing its 100th opinion.

The service, launched by the IPO in October 2005, helps businesses to resolve patent disputes by providing a quick, balanced and affordable impartial assessment of the key issues of any actual or potential patent dispute. This helps them to resolve their disputes ideally without them having to become involved in costly litigation in the courts. Even where subsequent litigation proves unavoidable, an opinion helps the parties to better focus their cases and thus save money and time

David Lammy, Minister of State for Intellectual Property, said:

"Resolving patent disputes in the courts can be very expensive. It is therefore encouraging that large and small companies, as well as individual inventors, are making use of alternative ways of resolving their disputes such as the Opinions service."

The 100th opinion, which like all other opinions can be viewed on the IPO’s website, considers whether a patent owned by Samsung which relates to cyclonic vacuum cleaners is invalid as claimed by Dyson. Whilst Dyson has previously challenged a number of patents owned by Samsung in the Courts, this is the first time that the company has requested an Opinion.

At only £200 to use the service, and with a 12-week turnaround, the service has proved to be popular with both large and small businesses as well as individual inventors. Other household names who have used the service include Marks & Spencer and Unilever.

Previous opinions have considered the validity and infringement of patents relating to for example pharmaceuticals, methods of genetic testing, devices for producing aircraft engines as well as less complex devices for dispensing cold beer and securing garden sheds. A recent opinion that attracted media attention² concluded that an innovative cable tie that received investment from two dragons in an episode of the BBC’s Dragons Den infringed an earlier patent owned by another company.

In light of success of the opinions service, the IPO is considering extending the service; a questionnaire is available for customers to give their views on this.

Notes to editors

1. The Intellectual Property Office is within the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and responsible for the national framework of Intellectual Property rights, comprising patents, designs, trade marks and copyright.

Its role is to help manage an IP system that encourages innovation and creativity, balances the needs of consumers and users, promotes strong and competitive markets and is the foundation of the knowledge based economy.

It operates in a national and an international environment and its work is governed by national and international law, including various international treaties relating to IP to which the United Kingdom is a party.

2. Dragons dented: Patent doubt over plastic ties that won over tycoons
MailOnline

For enquiries about the Intellectual Property Office press or media activities on this matter, please contact Matthew Navarra +44 (0) 1633 813 813.

Date of release: 18 September 2009