More than 170 UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) patent examiners took part in a presentation, expert panel session and interactive workshops on 22 September 2026 examining the assessment of technical character and patentability following the UK Supreme Court’s landmark Emotional Perception decision.
The event was delivered jointly by representatives from the IP Federation and the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA), bringing together industry and private practice experts to discuss the practical implications of the judgment for patent examination in the UK.
The programme provided an opportunity for UK IPO examiners and patent professionals to exchange views on the evolving approach to computer-implemented inventions and the assessment of technical character. Feedback from UK IPO management highlighted the value of the discussions and the benefits of bringing together different perspectives from across the patent system.
The training marks another important milestone in the growing collaboration between the IP Federation, CIPA and the UK IPO. Over the past 18 months, industry representatives, patent attorneys and UK IPO officials have worked together on a range of initiatives aimed at promoting consistency in patent practice, strengthening dialogue between stakeholders and enhancing understanding of emerging legal developments.
A particular strength of the event was the direct participation of in-house patent professionals from a number of IP Federation member companies. Representatives from Arm, BAT, Canon, IBM, Renishaw, Rolls-Royce and Vodafone contributed practical insights drawn from their experience of protecting innovation across a wide range of technology sectors.
The IP Federation was delighted to support the event and to contribute industry perspectives on the implications of the Emotional Perception judgment. The Federation believes that open dialogue between applicants, practitioners and the UK IPO plays an important role in maintaining a high-quality patent system that supports innovation and economic growth.
The Federation also extends its thanks to CIPA, and particularly Mike Jennings and Rob Genders, for organising the event and helping to bring together such a broad range of expertise.
The day demonstrated the value of collaboration across the patent community and highlighted the shared commitment of industry, the profession and the UK IPO to ensuring that the UK’s patent system continues to support innovation effectively in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
