The patent landscape in Scotland remains as busy as ever. The always important energy sector in Aberdeen continues to provide practitioners with lots of work, if less contentious matters. Oil and gas are dominant, but with the high price of gas, companies are increasingly diversifying, giving patent practitioners plenty to...

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The patent landscape in Scotland remains as busy as ever. The always important energy sector in Aberdeen continues to provide practitioners with lots of work, if less contentious matters. Oil and gas are dominant, but with the high price of gas, companies are increasingly diversifying, giving patent practitioners plenty to do in the renewable and energy innovation spaces. As in other jurisdictions, new technology trends are equally important, especially the permeation of AI and machine learning into other sectors. Particularly pivotal here is the intersection of machine learning and data collection. Patent attorneys continue to cite the important role of Brexit in driving a general increase in domestic UK filings, with a number specifically mentioning a growth in domestic design activity. On the litigation front, activity was relatively stable, though the increased use of litigation funding in patent litigation was noted by a number of practitioners. And, as elsewhere in Europe, practitioners in Scotland await this year’s arrival of the Unified Patent Court with a mixture of apprehension and excitement. Its specific effects on the Scottish market will likely take a few years to become apparent.

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