Intellectual Property in the Energy Sector (eBook)

Introduction 7
Jon Moorhouse
Keystone Law

I. Energy joint ventures: upstream 11
Jon Moorhouse
Keystone Law

1. Exploration 12
1.1 Data acquisition 12
1.2 Data processing and interpretation 14
2. Production 16
3. End of field life 22
4. Intellectual property management 22

II. A downstream perspective 25
Maeve O’Flynn
Finnegan Europe LLP
Paul Townsend
Finnegan LLP
1. Process technology 25
1.1 How can process technology be protected? 26
1.2 What protection is offered by process patents? 26
1.3 In which circumstances will competitor activity be outside the scope of protection of your process patent? 27
1.4 How do you ensure that the claims of your process patent provide commercially useful protection? 30
1.5 Will you be able to prove infringement of your process patent? 32
1.6 What is the value of your process patents? 32

2. Differentiated products 35
2.1 How should I protect products resulting from collaborative development? 35
2.2 How do I protect innovative products resulting from open innovation? 36
2.3 What are the IP challenges when considering freedom to operate for a large portfolio of differentiated products? 38
3. Conclusion 40

III. Renewables: solar – spotlight on BNRG 43
Eoin Langford
BNRG Renewables Ltd
Jon Moorhouse
Keystone Law

1. Introduction 43
2. Hardware 44
2.1 The technology 44
2.2 Manufacture 47
2.3 Procurement 48
3. Project development and asset management 49
3.1 Site selection and design optimisation 49
3.2 EPC and partnering 51
4. Reputation and brand management 52

IV. Digitalisation 55
Charles T Collins-Chase
Kathryn R Judson
Paul Townsend
Finnegan LLP

1. Digitalisation and artificial intelligence are rapidly changing the energy industry 55
2. Potential intellectual property issues facing AI and digital innovations 57
2.1 Patent eligibility 57
2.2 Patent inventorship 59
2.3 Trade secret protection 60
3. Patents: common issues and strategies 62
3.1 Strategies for overcoming patent-eligibility challenges 62
3.2 Strategies for avoiding inventorship issues 66
4. Trade secrets: strategies for navigating common pitfalls 67
5. Conclusion 71

V. Standard essential patents: licensing challenges for energy companies 75
Robert Pocknell
Keystone Law
1. Standards in the energy industry 76
1.1 Smart meters 76
1.2 Autonomous driving 77
1.3 Electric vehicle charging 77
2. What is the standards-setting process? 77
3. What SEP issues arise in the standards-setting process? 79
4. What does FRAND (fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory) mean? 80
5. Why are these telecoms issues relevant to the energy industry? 83
5.1 Example: a ‘smart’ water flow meter 84
6. What can be done? 86

VI. Brand protection 89
Sean Ibbetson
Bristows LLP
1. Introduction: the value of brands in the energy sector 89
2. How the energy sector protects its brands 90
2.1 Trademarks (registered) 90
2.2 Trademarks (unregistered) 97
2.3 Designs (registered and unregistered) 99
2.4 Copyright 100
3. Enforcement issues: jurisdiction, remedies and online enforcement 101
3.1 Jurisdiction 101
3.2 Remedies 101
3.3 Online enforcement issues 103
4. Advertising disputes 106
5. Conclusion 106

About the authors 108

About Globe Law and Business 112