IPPro Patents Issue 049

News Round-Up
Approximately 10 percent of the patent
families originated from the former devices
and services business of Nokia.
Though the business was acquired
by Microsoft in 2014, Nokia retained
the intellectual property in its Nokia
Technologies business.
The other 7 percent of the patent families
originated from Nokia Networks, previously
Nokia Siemens Networks.
The second portfolio covers seven technology
sectors, including cellular access and mobile
core, components and devices, fixed and IP
networking, multimedia and imaging, security,
services and applications, and short-range
radios and home networking.
The sale follows from the sale of the first
telecommunications portfolio offering,
made in August last year via AQUA
Licensing. The previous portfolio consisted
of 4,260 patent families.
Ilkka Rahnasto, head of patent business
at Nokia, said: “As we continue to optimise
our own patent portfolio, we are pleased that
AQUA will make a further set of former Nokia
patents available to operating companies and
startups, enabling them to obtain strategic or
defensive IP advantage.”
“We believe AQUA has an innovative approach
and we are encouraged by their early success
with the first offering.”
Mark McMillan, managing director of
AQUA Licensing, added: “We’re extremely
pleased to be working with Nokia again on
this next portfolio.”
“The first former Nokia portfolio offered through
us back in August generated a great deal of
interest, and we’re confident that the superior
assets in this second Nokia portfolio will offer
buyers an exceptional opportunity to obtain
significant value and defensive enforcement
advantages at a reasonable price.”
The portfolio is being made available for cash
purchase, in whole or in part, on a first-come,
first-served basis.
Trio of Australian firms combine
Australian intellectual property law firms
Fisher Adams Kelly Callinans, Cullens and
Spruson & Ferguson will merge under the
Spruson & Ferguson brand as of April 2018.
The merged entity will cover all aspects
of IP law, including patents, trademarks
and designs.
businesses have the capability, resources
and systems to deliver the highest quality
service to clients and provide strong
career paths for our people.”
He added: “Through this merger, we
expect significant benefits will flow to
the business, its clients and people, with
synergies in operations, access to an
It will employ a team of more than 400 even greater talent base and integration
staff, including 152 IP professionals with Spruson & Ferguson’s Asia Pacific
across its 10 offices in Bangkok, Beijing, service offering.”
Brisbane, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala
Lumpur, Melbourne, Shanghai, Singapore
and Sydney.
Tracey Berger, managing director Sydney/
Melbourne at Spruson & Ferguson, said:
“We are delighted to join with Fisher Adams
All three firms are members of IP services
group IPH Limited.
Kelly Callinans and Cullens to provide an
even greater pool of IP talent to our local
and international clients.”
Andrew Blattman, managing director
and CEO of IPH Limited, commented: “Our combined firm will draw on the
“This announcement today reinforces strengths of all three businesses to provide
our market-leading approach and our clients with an enhanced top-tier IP
commitment to ensuring our group service across the Asia Pacific region.”
BPTO extends USPTO highway including the European Patent Office, the
State Intellectual Property Office of China,
The Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office and the Japan Patent Office.
(BPTO) has extended its Patent Prosecution
Highway (PPH) agreement with the US Patent The BPTO is also a part of a PPH programme
and Trademark Office.
that encompasses the Latin American
PROSUR group, including Argentina, Chile,
According to a BPTO bulletin, the agreement, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Paraguay,
which had a deadline of 31 January 2018, has Peru and Uruguay.
been extended to 10 May 2018.
According to Brazilian law firm, Di Blasi
PPH agreements allow patent offices to Parente & Associados, the implementation
request fast-track examination in a partner of such agreements is part of the BPTO’s
country after a patent has already been strategy to reduce its backlog.
granted in the home country.
In January, the BPTO implemented a pilot
Brazil has entered into a range of PPH programme aimed at tackling the backlog of
agreements with various patent offices, patent applications at the office.
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