Recent Cases

Folding Attic Stairs Ltd v Loft Stairs Ltd

In an unusual case, the patentee had been pictured in a national newspaper standing in front of his invention some months before the priority date.  The claim construction adopted by the court drew attention to the fact that it was to a manufacturing method and hence the finished product did not necessarily disclose the method.

In addition, the court considered the question of ‘availability to the public’ in the context of permitting access to business premises of a small and defined group.