Editorial

T. Johnson (GB), Editorial Committee


“One of the greatest pains to human nature is the pain of a new idea”. So said Walter Bagehot, a British economist, journalist, and editor -in-chief of The Economist in Victorian times. Perhaps our clients might agree with the sentiment, and we are sure that we have all had experience of an inventor sacrificing time, money, and even a marriage to get an idea off the ground. On the other hand, we have often pondered on the phenomenon of what appears to be a perpetual human desire to develop/improve/innovate so that even tried and tested technology moves on to new heights. The desire seems to be part of human nature. Yet as the philosopher of science Karl Popper said “the initial stage, the act of conceiving or inventing a theory seems to me neither to call for logical analysis nor to be susceptible of it”.

Thus the famous “Eureka” moment when the inventor springs metaphorically from his bath with the new idea in his mind.

We are not unused to new ideas in the realm of patent law and procedure. Though perhaps long in the tooth now, the UP and UPC are ideas which had severe birth pains but may now soon become realities, particularly as post-Brexit the United Kingdom has, we understand, indicated that it may ratify the UPC. As Bagehot also said “The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do”.

On that happy note, one thing the Editorial Committee can do is sincerely to wish all our readers a Happy Holiday Season and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year.