The European Patent Office (EPO) and the government of Costa Rica are making significant strides towards finalizing a validation agreement that would extend EPO patent rights into Costa Rica. In a recent meeting held at the EPO’s headquarters in Munich, representatives from both parties discussed the progress in negotiations that began earlier in October. This gathering marked an important step forward, following the EPO Administrative Council’s approval of formal talks aimed at exploring the potential for patent validation within Costa Rica.

Perilla Knox & Hildebrandt LLP (PKH) partners, Kenny Knox and Jason Perilla, attended the 2024 AIPPI World Congress in Hangzhou, China. The conference, hosted by the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), took place on October 19-22, 2024, and brought together global leaders in intellectual property law.

Perilla Knox & Hildebrandt LLP (PKH) is excited to announce that Robert Gravois has joined Perilla Knox & Hildebrandt LLP as the latest addition to our intellectual property team. With a strong focus on IP litigation, patent and trademark portfolio development, and licensing, Robert enhances PKH’s capabilities and expertise.

Perilla Knox & Hildebrandt LLP (PKH) is pleased to announce the addition of Tom Finch to its Litigation Practice Group. Tom brings a wealth of experience in all aspects of patent litigation, including patent infringement, trade secret misappropriation, and other high-stakes IP disputes. His broad expertise in navigating complex litigation at both the trial and appellate levels makes him a strategic asset to PKH’s clients across a wide array of industries.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has announced the termination of the After Final Consideration Pilot Program 2.0 (AFCP 2.0), a program designed to improve patent prosecution and reduce requests for continued examination. While the program was initially scheduled to expire on September 30, 2024, the USPTO has extended its deadline to December 14, 2024, providing extra time for those preparing submissions.

Hacker groups are now utilizing UDRP procedings to usurp valuable domain names. This case underscores the extreme lengths to which hacker groups will go to unlawfully obtain valuable assets. It’s a clear example of the innovative and aggressive strategies hackers employ to exploit domain disputes.

Perilla Knox & Hildebrandt LLP proudly announces that several of its esteemed partners have been recognized by Best Lawyers® in 2025. This recognition underscores the firm's dedication to excellence and its influential role in the field of intellectual property law.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has proposed a comprehensive set of changes to its trademark fees, set to take effect in fiscal year 2025. These changes include increases in existing fees, the introduction of new fees, and the discontinuation of several fees.