Mark Bell

Partner

Background

Mark is a qualified UK and European patent attorney. He joined Dehns in 2007 having graduated from Oxford University with a first class Master of Physics degree in 2003 and having completed a DPhil in high energy particle physics, also at Oxford University. He was made an Associate of the firm in 2013, Senior Associate in 2019 and Partner in 2022.

 

Type of clients and client work

Mark acts for clients of a variety of sizes, from start-ups, university spin-outs and SMEs all the way through to multinational corporations, with a particular focus on small and medium sized technology companies for whom their patent portfolios are one of their major assets.

He has experience in drafting new patent applications, prosecuting these applications to grant before the UK and European Patent Offices, and also handling international patent portfolios. He also files registered designs in the UK and Europe, as well as providing strategic advice regarding the infringement and validity of patents and designs.

Mark regularly advises clients on IP strategy and due diligence, and has performed a number of reviews of patent portfolios, both for SMEs and investors. He has also undertaken a number of analytics and investigation projects, advising clients on patent landscaping and competitor filing strategies.

 

Expertise

Mark’s work involves handling patents in a wide variety of high-tech engineering and physics fields, including: quantum computing, graphics processing, nuclear fusion, satellite technology, telecommunications, solid state lighting, pressure regulation, construction, water oxygenation, nuclear decommissioning and medical devices.

 

Qualifications and Memberships

  • Authorised Representative before the Unified Patent Court (UPC) (2023)
  • Basic Litigation Skills Course, 2017
  • UK Chartered Patent Attorney, 2012
  • European Patent Attorney, 2011
  • Certificate in IP Law, Brunel University, 2008
  • Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys
  • Member of the European Patent Institute
  • Associate Member of the Institute of Physics

 

Higher Education

DPhil, Particle Physics, University of Oxford, 2007

MPhys (First Class) Physics, University of Oxford, 2003

Mark’s DPhil research involved studying the decay of sub-atomic particles (charm and beauty mesons decaying semi-leptonically to electrons) in the large scale ZEUS detector on the HERA electron-proton accelerator at the DESY laboratory in Hamburg.

 

Other

Mark has recently been recognised in the Patent 1000 IAM 2023 edition, with feedback from peers and clients noting: “We have worked with Mark for over 10 years, and he has successfully prosecuted patents for us in a number of jurisdictions. Mark has been eminently competent, capable, approachable and personable at all times. He is very knowledgeable and can provide good advice as needed. His service is consistently diligent. Mark is reliable, informed and an excellent communicator, and has demonstrated himself to be eminently capable of constructively addressing any challenge.”

Mark was recognised as a “Notable Practitioner” in the 2023 and 2022 edition of Managing Intellectual Property’s IP Stars publication. Mark has previously been recognised as a “Rising Star” in the 2018, 2019 and 2020 editions of the publication. He has also been recommended in the 2017 edition of The Legal 500 directory, where he was singled out for his “ability to understand novel new physics related inventions and quickly transpose them into a clear and understandable documents, ready for patent filing”. Mark was again singled out in the 2018 edition for his work with the US lighting products company Cree on its European patent applications.

Mark has has retained the position of “key lawyer” of the firm in the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 editions of The Legal 500.

In the 2023 edition of The Legal 500, one of his clients commented: “We work with Mark Bell, who has looked after our IP portfolio for nearly 10 years now. He is always very responsive, thoughtful and communicative.”

On the back of Mark’s article “Obtaining patents for artificial intelligence and machine learning in Europe”, published in November 2018, Mark was contacted by the American Bar Association (ABA) and invited to give a talk to their members on “Patenting Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Europe”; the feedback he received from the webinar participants was all “Excellent”.

Mark is a prolific writer of technology and IP articles, in addition to him featuring in numerous Dehns podcasts. See below for his articles and podcasts.

Contact details

Willow Court
West Way
Oxford
OX2 0JB
United Kingdom

+44 (0)1865 305 100 +44 (0)20 7353 8895

Departments

mechanical engineering, physics, software, consulting, designs

Articles by Mark Bell

Filing patent applications for “mind-bendingly difficult” technologies Filing patent applications for “mind-bendingly difficult” technologies 06 Mar 2024 3 min read Dehns named as “go-to firm for UK and EPO work” in the IAM Patent 1000 2023 edition Dehns named as “go-to firm for UK and EPO work” in the IAM Patent 1000 2023 edition 12 Jul 2023 4 min read The UPC: the 5 Ws (and an H) The UPC: the 5 Ws (and an H) 01 Jun 2023 4 min read Unitary patent system back on track? Unitary patent system back on track? 01 Dec 2020 3 min read UK formally withdraws from Unified Patent Court UK formally withdraws from Unified Patent Court 20 Jul 2020 3 min read I spy with my little AI I spy with my little AI 29 Apr 2020 3 min read LEGO endures the test of time LEGO endures the test of time 29 Jan 2020 3 min read Patent planning for a “no deal” Brexit Patent planning for a “no deal” Brexit 25 Sep 2018 6 min read Patents filed for space station research Patents filed for space station research 14 Sep 2018 3 min read UK now officially member of international design system UK now officially member of international design system 13 Jun 2018 3 min read Xiaomi making waves in the West Xiaomi making waves in the West 08 May 2018 4 min read Apple faced with dual-camera dual-patent duels Apple faced with dual-camera dual-patent duels 04 May 2018 4 min read Chinese companies increase use of international patent system Chinese companies increase use of international patent system 13 Apr 2018 4 min read When inventions come to life When inventions come to life 13 Apr 2018 3 min read UK ratifies Hague Agreement for industrial designs UK ratifies Hague Agreement for industrial designs 14 Mar 2018 3 min read Statistical highlights from the European Patent Office’s annual report Statistical highlights from the European Patent Office’s annual report 09 Mar 2018 4 min read Marginal gains come to Norwegian fish farming Marginal gains come to Norwegian fish farming 23 Feb 2018 3 min read Protection for GUIs restricted to specific hardware carriers in China Protection for GUIs restricted to specific hardware carriers in China 07 Sep 2018 4 min read 3D printing matures using molecular science 3D printing matures using molecular science 01 Dec 2017 3 min read It’s no longer like painting the Forth Bridge It’s no longer like painting the Forth Bridge 01 Dec 2017 3 min read Air to ground re-fuelling? Air to ground re-fuelling? 31 Oct 2017 4 min read Car makers hit back at flat licence fees for patents Car makers hit back at flat licence fees for patents 31 Oct 2017 3 min read Inspired inventions Inspired inventions 06 Oct 2017 3 min read EU looks to draw up uniform model for patent licence fees EU looks to draw up uniform model for patent licence fees 06 Oct 2017 4 min read Cracked phone screen? Let it heal itself! Cracked phone screen? Let it heal itself! 24 Aug 2017 3 min read Samsung clears first hurdle against Apple Samsung clears first hurdle against Apple 04 Aug 2017 3 min read Qualcomm takes Apple to the ITC Qualcomm takes Apple to the ITC 07 Jul 2017 3 min read Apple signs Nokia licence agreement to resolve patent litigation Apple signs Nokia licence agreement to resolve patent litigation 07 Jun 2017 3 min read Can the new £1 coin have both “secret” and “patented” features? Can the new £1 coin have both “secret” and “patented” features? 28 Mar 2017 4 min read Abstract Smartflash patents invalidated as Apple bites back Abstract Smartflash patents invalidated as Apple bites back 03 Mar 2017 3 min read Assessment of damages for Apple and Samsung rumbles on Assessment of damages for Apple and Samsung rumbles on 09 Feb 2017 3 min read Has Apple invented a transparent phone? Has Apple invented a transparent phone? 16 Jan 2016 4 min read MRI machine deemed to be an “abstract idea” MRI machine deemed to be an “abstract idea” 09 Jan 2017 5 min read The IP Podcast (Ep: 16) – Oxford University Innovation: Life at a Technology Transfer Office The IP Podcast (Ep: 16) – Oxford University Innovation: Life at a Technology Transfer Office 18 Sep 2020 3 min read The IP Podcast (Ep:12) – Patent Infringement (Part 2) The IP Podcast (Ep:12) – Patent Infringement (Part 2) 21 Aug 2020 3 min read The IP Podcast (Ep:11) – Patent Infringement (Part 1) The IP Podcast (Ep:11) – Patent Infringement (Part 1) 14 Aug 2020 3 min read The IP Podcast (Ep. 10) – Freedom to Operate (FTO) The IP Podcast (Ep. 10) – Freedom to Operate (FTO) 30 Jul 2020 2 min read The IP Podcast (Ep.8): The Patent Box The IP Podcast (Ep.8): The Patent Box 17 Jul 2020 3 min read The IP Podcast (Ep. 7): Getting your patents granted overseas The IP Podcast (Ep. 7): Getting your patents granted overseas 10 Jul 2020 2 min read The IP Podcast (Ep. 6): How to get your patent application granted – part 2 The IP Podcast (Ep. 6): How to get your patent application granted – part 2 03 Jul 2020 3 min read The IP Podcast (Ep.5): How to get your patent application granted – part 1 The IP Podcast (Ep.5): How to get your patent application granted – part 1 26 Jun 2020 2 min read The IP Podcast (Ep.4): The patent application process The IP Podcast (Ep.4): The patent application process 18 Jun 2020 2 min read The IP Podcast (Ep.3): Who owns what? The IP Podcast (Ep.3): Who owns what? 11 Jun 2020 2 min read The IP Podcast (Ep.2): Keep things confidential – for now The IP Podcast (Ep.2): Keep things confidential – for now 09 Jun 2020 2 min read The IP Podcast (Ep.1): Capturing your innovations The IP Podcast (Ep.1): Capturing your innovations 09 Jun 2020 3 min read The IP Podcast – Season 2 Ep. 2: The UPC (part 1) The IP Podcast – Season 2 Ep. 2: The UPC (part 1) 18 Jul 2022 3 min read The IP Podcast – Season 2 Ep. 3: The UPC (part 2) The IP Podcast – Season 2 Ep. 3: The UPC (part 2) 02 Aug 2022 3 min read Maxell wins in smartphone patent dispute with ZTE Maxell wins in smartphone patent dispute with ZTE 06 Jul 2018 3 min read Samsung wins in Supreme Court against Apple Samsung wins in Supreme Court against Apple 06 Dec 2016 4 min read Translation requirements dropped for European patents in Belgium Translation requirements dropped for European patents in Belgium 28 Nov 2016 3 min read Chinese case confirms importance of design protection for GUIs Chinese case confirms importance of design protection for GUIs 11 Nov 2016 3 min read Nokia and Sony silence Apple Nokia and Sony silence Apple 04 Oct 2016 3 min read BT vents steam at Valve BT vents steam at Valve 08 Sep 2016 2 min read Forgotten Einstein invention resurrected Forgotten Einstein invention resurrected 13 Sep 2016 3 min read Business as usual for IP following Brexit Business as usual for IP following Brexit 07 Sep 2016 4 min read Samsung tries to claw back damages from Apple Samsung tries to claw back damages from Apple 25 Aug 2016 4 min read Innovators will face less red tape Innovators will face less red tape 10 Aug 2016 3 min read Could scientific research and innovation boost the UK economy post Brexit? Could scientific research and innovation boost the UK economy post Brexit? 05 Aug 2016 3 min read Samsung fights back against Huawei Samsung fights back against Huawei 29 Jul 2016 3 min read Is the end of Moore’s law in sight? Is the end of Moore’s law in sight? 19 Jul 2016 3 min read BMW launches innovation accelerator BMW launches innovation accelerator 21 Jul 2016 3 min read Electric bus patents released to public Electric bus patents released to public 30 Jun 2016 3 min read Are light bulbs a thing of the past? Are light bulbs a thing of the past? 23 Jun 2016 3 min read Nokia reinvents itself Nokia reinvents itself 10 Jun 2016 3 min read How best to protect the overall shape of a design? How best to protect the overall shape of a design? 06 Jun 2016 4 min read Huawei sues Samsung for patent infringement Huawei sues Samsung for patent infringement 26 May 2016 3 min read Are we on the cusp of viable quantum computing? Are we on the cusp of viable quantum computing? 23 May 2016 3 min read Is a Brexit good for IP? Is a Brexit good for IP? 23 May 2016 3 min read First use of artificial intelligence in legal case First use of artificial intelligence in legal case 18 May 2016 3 min read Will open innovation replace the established IP system? Will open innovation replace the established IP system? 18 May 2016 3 min read Still hope for computer implemented inventions in the US? Still hope for computer implemented inventions in the US? 16 May 2016 3 min read Will the Internet of Things be the next big thing? Will the Internet of Things be the next big thing? 13 May 2016 3 min read Will Hyperloop ever become reality? Will Hyperloop ever become reality? 12 May 2016 3 min read F1 pitstop transformed into hospital resuscitation F1 pitstop transformed into hospital resuscitation 11 May 2016 3 min read NASA releases patents to public NASA releases patents to public 10 May 2016 3 min read “Failed” experiments – a potential IP goldmine? “Failed” experiments – a potential IP goldmine? 09 May 2016 3 min read Are HTC about to enter the VR market? Are HTC about to enter the VR market? 06 May 2016 2 min read Transit of Mercury Transit of Mercury 01 Jan 1970 2 min read