news

Nash Matthews offers new patent litigation service aimed at small and medium enterprises

It has long been known that patent litigation in the UK can be prohibitively expensive for all but the largest companies. Arising out of what was the Patents County Court, the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC), has made significant strides to further addressing this and improving access to justice. The IPEC has also moved from the county court structure and taken its place as a specialist court in the Chancery Division of the High Court, reflecting its jurisdiction across the whole spectrum of intellectual property rights.  The IPEC therefore now offers a highly efficient and cost-effective means for resolving intellectual property disputes of all sizes.

However, the greatest advantage of the IPEC is its strong emphasis on small and medium enterprises. Its streamlined procedures, proactive case management and caps on recoverable costs set it apart from the Patents Court and have significantly improved access to justice.

To reflect this development, we have established a burgeoning patent litigation practice.  As certified patent litigators, we are qualified to conduct litigation in the IPEC.  This means that we can offer a full patent litigation service together with a barrister for the majority of cases. The service is therefore specifically aimed at small and medium enterprises who wish to take further advantage of the cost efficiencies available at the IPEC, whilst maintaining the highest quality of service.

If you are wary of initiating patent litigation due to the perceived cost, or are facing litigation from another party, we would strongly encourage you to get in touch with us and to seek advice.