Sarah Waterman

25.06.2025

The decision in G1/24 (Heated Aerosol) has now issued, and given the important principle of patent law involved, its brevity is impressive. At twelve pages in total including five pages of actual decision, this is among the shortest of the “short” Enlarged Board of Appeal decisions (in contrast to “long” decisions such as G1/19). “Short” decisions look to identify what question has to be answered and to provide as succinct an answer as possible, whereas “long” decisions look to tease out an answer to a complex question and often to give guidelines for applying the decision itself. G1/24 is the epitome of a “short” decision.

03.06.2025

In recent years, the space industry has undergone significant innovation and commercialization. What was once a domain reserved for government agencies traditionally restricted by extremely high costs and resource demands has rapidly evolved into a growing sector where private companies are pioneering new technologies and commercial ventures. This surge in activity has made space technology not only a symbol of scientific progress but also a key driver of economic growth and competitiveness across the world.