Welcome to Greenshoots

Greenshoots is a collection of fresh intellectual property insight, analysis and commentary on the issues that matter most to those who invent, manage and protect intellectual property, written by the IP specialists of Appleyard Lees.

Now that you’re here, why not take a look around?

Articles

A guide to the most frequent EPO formality objections

European Patent Office (EPO) communications - such as search reports and examination reports - often include a set of recurring “formality” objections. Here, we explain the three most common objections and why European patent attorneys typically recommend certain amendments.

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Podcasts

AI in Flight: Patent insights into AI‑driven green aviation

In this episode of the Greenshoots Podcast, Partner Adam Tindall and Associate Ali Dumigan explore how artificial intelligence is transforming aerospace innovation,

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Articles

Essentially Derived Varieties: Watch out plant breeders, growers and retailers!

Plant breeder’s rights (PBRs) have entered the litigation spotlight in the UK with the recent decision in the case between Nador Cott Protection SAS (NCP) and Asda Stores Limited & International Procurement and Logistics Limited (IPL).

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Articles

UK Plant Breeders’ Rights

Plant breeder’s rights (PBRs) for new plant varieties are granted by The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in the UK. A separate application is required to add a plant variety to the UK national list so that it can be marketed in the UK.

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Articles

Plant Variety Rights

Plant Variety Rights (PVRs), or Plant Breeder’s Rights (PBRs) as they are known in some countries, are intellectual property rights which protect new, distinct, uniform and stable plant varieties including genetically modified plant varieties.

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Articles

Navigating Unity of Invention: a practical guide for European patent filings

A break down of how the EPO assesses unity, what “special technical features” really mean, and how smart claim drafting can reduce costs and avoid unnecessary divisionals.

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Articles

Independent claims and unity of invention: what European patent applicants need to know

Two concepts that often overlap in a European patent application are unity of invention and the number of independent claims. In this article, Thomas Measures explains the difference and why they are important.

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Articles

A practical guide to multiple independent claims under the European patent convention

Patent systems around the world differ in how many independent claims they allow within the same claim category (e.g., product, process, apparatus, use). In this article, we break down the European approach.

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Articles

Trouble in Trade Mark Paradise: The Beckham Family Fallout

Brooklyn Beckham is the eldest child of ex-Spice Girl and fashion designer Victoria Beckham and former professional footballer turned media personality, David Beckham. On 20 January 2026, Brooklyn denounced his claim to the Beckham dynasty, releasing a six-part Instagram story that sent shockwaves across social media.

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Articles

Appleyard Lees acts for successful defendants, Asda and IPL, in first claim for infringement of plant breeders’ rights brought to trial in the UK

"This is an important decision on many levels. In finding against NCP, the court has given clear, seminal guidance on the correct interpretation of essentially derived varieties under UK legislation."

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Articles

Software and AI Patentability: A Global Overview

This article provides an overview of how AI and software can be patented in key jurisdictions and commercial markets. This will help you and your trusted patent attorney to develop an optimal patent filing strategy for your AI innovations. 

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