Infrastructure & Projects

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Recent Articles

  •  
    25/04/2024
    United Kingdom

    No two (or more) ways about it: UK Patents Court highlights the importance of clear and consistent design images

    Introduction  A recent judgment from the UK Patents Court serves as a helpful reminder that clarity and consistency of visual representations are essential, when filing for design registrations.In the case of Safestand Ltd v Weston Homes PLC & Ors [2023] EWHC 3250 (Pat), the court dealt with allegations of patent infringement and the validity of registered designs related to builders' trestles. The claimant, Safestand, argued that Weston Homes infringed three of its patents and three of its re-registered EU designs (“RRDs”, previously known as Community Registered Designs)....
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  •  
    17/04/2024
    Scotland

    Bioenergy in Scotland – Scottish Government’s Draft Policy Statement focusses on sustainability and resilience

    IntroductionThe Scottish Government (“SG”) has launched a consultation on its draft Bioenergy Policy (the “SG Bioenergy Policy”), with responses to be submitted by 12th June 2024. This article provides a brief overview of the SG Bioenergy Policy’s main features and how it compares with its counterpart, the “Biomass Policy Statement” which was published by the UK Government in November 2021, subsequently laying the foundation for the Biomass Strategy released in 2023.BackgroundThe draft SG Bioenergy Policy sets out the role SG envisages bioenergy playing...
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  •  
    09/04/2024
    Europe

    The sum of parts: Registered design for segments of towers found valid by General Court

    BackgroundTA Towers ApS (“TA Towers”), a company based in Denmark, is the holder of the below registered Community design relating to goods for building materials, specifically, ‘building materials for a windmill tower’ (the “RCD”): On 3 September 2019, the intervener, Wobben Properties GmbH (Wobben) filed an application for a declaration of invalidity of the RCD. Wobben claimed that:the contested design lacked novelty,it did not have individual character, andthe features of its appearance were solely dictated...
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  •  
    08/04/2024
    Hungary

    Hungary proposes ex-ante competition tool to regulate essential companies

    On 2 April 2024, the Hungarian Ministry of Justice submitted an omnibus act to the Hungarian parliament proposing the amendment of several Hungarian laws, including the Competition Act. This Proposal’s most noteworthy element is – based on the German example – expanding the Hungarian Competition Authority’s (HCA) toolbox by introducing a new ex-ante regime enabling the HCA to impose obligations on certain companies without first having to demonstrate a violation of the law.This following article summarises the Proposal’s new rules, potential consequences and next steps.PROPOSED...
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  •  
    08/04/2024
    Ukraine

    Ukraine discontinues War and Sanctions Portal

    Following a governmental discussion on 19 March 2024, the Ukrainian government announced its decision to shut down a sanctions-related database maintained by the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP).This database, the “War & Sanction Portal”, was created in the first days of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine as part of the implementation of the sanctions plan against Russia (i.e. the Individual Sanctions Roadmap) of the Yermak-McFaul Sanctions Group.Starting with the "International Sponsors of War" section, the Portal was expanded to include additional segments...
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  •  
    03/04/2024
    Ukraine

    Register of Damage for Ukraine is open for claims submission

    On 2 April 2024, the Register of Damage for Ukraine opened the claims submission process for compensation for damage, loss or injury caused by Russian aggression against Ukraine. The launch took place as part of the Ministerial Conference "Restoring Justice for Ukraine" co-hosted by the Netherlands, Ukraine and the European Commission at the World Forum in The Hague.As a reminder, the official website of the Register of Damage for Ukraine was launched on 4 March 2024. The website contains the following:documents governing the work of the Register;answers to frequently asked questions on the Register’s...
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