The Intellectual Property Conference at Scots Law 2025

Murrayfield Stadium is the venue for the next event in our Scots Law Conference Series, exclusively available to delegates in person on the day.

Our annual Intellectual Property Conference will cover topics ranging from copycat claims and the risk of trademark revocation from non-use to the territorial reach of UK patents, human rights and IP and what SMEs need to know about intellectual property.

Chaired by Colin Hulme of Burness Paull, and including a keynote address from Lord Lake, the conference will also include presentations by Andy Lee from Brandsmiths, Eilidh Smith of Pinsent Masons, Professor Abbe Brown from The University of Aberdeen, Rachael Ward of Burness Paull and Bruce Torrance from Reddie & Grose.

What's being covered?

Keynote address

Lord Lake

Trade marks - EUse it or lose it

A discussion of the UK rules on non-use revocation of trade marks having regard to specific risks of revocation for post-Brexit cloned marks.

Colin Hulme, Burness Paull

Intellectual property and human rights: legal complexities, practical opportunities

Abbe will share ideas and looks forward to an interactive discussion about approaches to IP and human rights, including in relation to raising of actions, interdicts, approaches to licensing and intersections with approaches to Environmental Social and Governance.

Professor Abbe Brown, University of Aberdeen

Football boots, Agas and vapes

In this session Andy will review a number of important decisions of the UK courts involving his clients in the past 12 months which have significantly changed or clarified practice, including Iconix v Dream Pairs, Aga v UK Innovations and Bargain Busting v Shenzhen Ske Technology Ltd.

Andy Lee, Brandsmiths

Copycat claims

This session will look at some key cases in recent trade mark litigations regarding copycat products, and consideration of where the caselaw is heading.

Eilidh Smith, Pinsent Masons

IP in the North Sea: are offshore windfarms within reach of a UK patent?

UK patents prevent infringing acts being carried out in the UK and the UK's territorial waters, which extend 12 nautical miles offshore. But what happens further out to sea, where many of the UK's natural energy installations are – or will be – located? Can these valuable assets still be protected with patents? The answer is far from plain sailing...

Bruce Torrance, Reddie & Grose

Safeguarding intellectual property to support business growth

A common misconception that SMEs fall victim to is the belief that intellectual property is only a consideration for corporate giants. However, intellectual property is a major asset for every business, regardless of size, and recognising its value can play a crucial role in the success of an SME. We will discuss the importance of identifying IP and how clients can capitalise on it to drive the success of their business.

Rachael Ward, Burness Paull