Intellectual Property UK

  • June 02, 2026

    High Court Gets Overhaul With New Business Division

    Lady Chief Justice Sue Carr unveiled plans on Tuesday to overhaul the High Court of England and Wales by creating a new business and property division that she said will provide "greater clarity for users."

  • June 01, 2026

    Bugatti Puts Brakes On EV Maker To Nix Rival's 'Veron' TM

    European officials have upheld Bugatti's challenge to a rival's trademark for "Veron," ruling that shoppers might confuse it with the luxury carmaker's "Veyron" brand.

  • June 01, 2026

    Visa Blocks 'Lovisa' Cosmetics TM Application In EU

    Visa has persuaded European Union officials to deny a Chinese individual's "Lovisa" trademark application, proving that shoppers could mistakenly think the logo is an extension of its "Visa" branding.

  • June 01, 2026

    Viral Labubu Toy Loses TM Protection To Turkish 'Bubu' Rival

    An Italian retailer has lost a trademark displaying the viral Labubu plush toy shown off by celebrities like Rihanna and David Beckham, after a Turkish stationery shop convinced European officials that shoppers were too accustomed to its earlier "Bubu" mark despite the Labubu toy's global craze. 

  • June 01, 2026

    Moldova Becomes 40th State To Join EU Patent Convention

    European officials said Monday that Moldova has officially become the 40th country to sign onto the European Patent Organization, giving businesses and inventors in the country broader access to patent protection after years of co-operation with the bloc.

  • June 01, 2026

    Budweiser Budvar Downs Aldi's 'Buval' Beer TM Hopes

    Czech brewer Budweiser Budvar has convinced the European Union to block Aldi's "Buval" trademark application, proving that drinkers could confuse the two brands in noisy bars and nightclubs.

  • June 01, 2026

    Honeywell Keeps Patent For Eco-Friendly Chemical Process

    Honeywell has persuaded a European appeals panel to uphold an amended version of its patent for a way of producing an environmentally friendly refrigerant chemical, defeating a Mexican rival's quest to void the patent entirely.

  • May 29, 2026

    Hitachi Can't Revive Bid To Patent Voltage-Surge Protector

    European appellate officials have rejected a Hitachi patent for a component that manages surge voltages in power transmission systems, ruling that there wasn't enough information allowing skilled engineers to make the two claimed versions. 

  • May 29, 2026

    UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

    The past week in London has seen the billionaire who donated £5 million ($6.7 million) to Nigel Farage sue Ben Habib, the leader of far-right party Advance UK, for defamation; Mashreqbank bring claims against three subsidiaries of dissolved private equity giant Abraaj Group for commercial fraud; and the property and investment vehicle of the State of Kuwait be targeted by four real estate figures who filed a miscellaneous claim. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.

  • May 29, 2026

    Squire Patton's New EU IP Head Sets Sights On UPC And AI

    After some false starts, Squire Patton Boggs is handling its first dispute at the Unified Patent Court, and new European IP and technology chief Carlton Daniel could not be happier to see the firm through its new foray into European patent litigation.

  • May 29, 2026

    Nokia Drops UPC Claim Against Lotus Following Settlement

    Nokia has withdrawn its infringement claim against Lotus and other brands owned by Geely in a European court a week after the Finnish firm said it had settled all litigation with the Chinese electric automaker over patents covering smart-car technology.

  • May 29, 2026

    Ferrero Cracks Confectioner's Bid For 'Vlinder' TM

    Ferrero has persuaded European officials to block a Saudi Arabian confectioner from registering the trademark "Vlinder: Chocolate" after demonstrating that consumers would likely believe it was connected to Ferrero's established "Kinder" chocolate range.

  • May 28, 2026

    HSBC Defeats Most Claims In First Citizens' Poaching Suit

    A California federal judge has dismissed the bulk of First Citizens Bank & Trust Co.'s suit against HSBC alleging the latter induced a mass resignation and misappropriated trade secrets, saying the court still didn't have any jurisdiction over some defendants and that an amended complaint had not cured issues with a previously dismissed complaint.

  • May 28, 2026

    Roche Revives Patent For Heart Risk Monitor At EPO

    Roche has won a second chance at defending its patent for predicting heart failure, after an appellate board found that an earlier cardiac-screening study didn't undermine its intellectual property because it used other testing methods to reach different results. 

  • May 28, 2026

    Brown University Can't Patent Body Shape Guessing Tech

    European appellate officials have rejected a Brown University patent covering technology that guesses a person's body shape to help them shop online or achieve their fitness goals, ruling that it was obvious to provide real height and weight constraints for better accuracy. 

  • May 28, 2026

    Drugmaker Disputes Challenge To Pet Vomiting Treatment

    A Dechra unit has pushed back against rival drugmaker Krka's attempt to revoke its injectable formula for treating vomiting in cats and dogs, insisting the patent has remained valid from the outset. 

  • May 28, 2026

    Stanford Gives Up Cancer Treatment Patent In Europe

    Stanford University has relinquished its European patent for a type of cancer treatment following a challenge from Pfizer and Danish biotech company Genmab, an appeals panel found in a ruling released Thursday.

  • May 28, 2026

    Unauthorized Red Bull Sales Did Little Harm, Wholesaler Says

    A wholesaler has partially admitted that it infringed Red Bull's trademark over its name by selling the energy drinks without authorization abroad, but told a London judge that the scale of the infringement was being exaggerated and the damages awarded should be minimal. 

  • May 28, 2026

    Jellycat Hits Next, Hamleys With String Of Passing-Off Claims

    Jellycat has hit three retailers, including High Street giants Next and Hamleys, in a series of trademark infringement and passing-off claims at the High Court.

  • May 27, 2026

    Property Co. Says 'Praxis' TM Confusion Led To Bad Reviews

    A real estate management company has accused a rival of infringing its "Praxis" trademark, telling a London court that unhappy apartment block residents were confused by the brands and had written negative online reviews against the wrong company about rats and damp. 

  • May 27, 2026

    Toyota Told Century TMs Conflict With Plant IP Protections

    The European Union has trimmed Toyota's applications for three trademarks for its "Century" car brand, ruling that the name cannot appear on goods that conflict with various plant variety protections.

  • May 27, 2026

    Diageo Knocks Out Tech Co.'s 'Soul' TM For Beverages

    Guinness owner Diageo has convinced European officials to revoke a company's "Soul" trademark for beers and other beverages, as officials held the company had not provided evidence of commercial use in the last five years. 

  • May 27, 2026

    Pirelli Gets UPC Injunctions Against 2 Copycat Tire Makers

    Pirelli has obtained two injunctions against two rival tire makers that Europe's patent court ruled had copied Pirelli's special grooves on the tire's central strip, aimed at improving road grip for motorcycles. 

  • May 27, 2026

    Nestlé Defends Infant Formula Patent Against Danone Unit

    Nestlé has preserved a tweaked version of its European patent for infant formula that helps to tackle conditions such as obesity and diabetes, defeating an appeal from a Danone subsidiary which sought to void the patent entirely.

  • May 26, 2026

    Japanese Chemical Biz Beats Challenge To EU Resin Patent

    Japanese chemical giant Eneos has persuaded European officials to block Dow Chemical Co.'s challenge to its patent for a wired resin composition, with an appellate board finding that a skilled manufacturer would easily understand how to reproduce it.

Expert Analysis

  • Strategies For Litigating In The Unified Patent Court

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    Since opening its gates two years ago, the European Unified Patent Court has transformed the patent litigation landscape and global litigation strategies, but parties seeking to take advantage of the court's robust processes must be prepared for the front-loaded character of UPC proceedings, say attorneys at McDermott.

  • Incorporating UKIPO Guidance Into AI Patent Strategies

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    Updated guidance from the U.K. Intellectual Property Office sheds light on how it assesses patents for artificial intelligence inventions and highlights approaches that improve applicants' options for demonstrating that AI provides a technical contribution, say lawyers at Finnegan.

  • Clarity On Knotty Patent Jurisdiction Questions From CJEU

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    The recent ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union in BSH v. Electrolux sheds light on how the jurisdiction of the Unified Patent Court competes with that of the EU member state courts over infringement and validity actions, and could extend international jurisdiction of the EU courts in several ways, say lawyers at August Debouzy.

  • Russia Sanctions Spotlight: Divergent Approaches Emerge

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    With indications of greater divergence and uncertainty in Russia sanctions policy between the U.K., European Union and U.S., there are four general principles and a range of compliance steps that businesses should bear in mind when assessing the impact of a potentially shifting landscape, says Alexandra Melia at Steptoe.

  • Opinion

    UK Court Of Appeal's FRAND Ruling Is Troubling

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    The U.K. Court of Appeal's recent decision in Optis v. Apple disregards a lower court's extensive factual findings and contradicts its own precedent regarding fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms for cellular patents, says Enrico Bonadio at the University of London.

  • FCA Update Eases Private Stock Market Disclosure Rules

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    The Financial Conduct Authority’s recently updated proposals for the Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System would result in less onerous disclosure obligations for businesses, reflecting ongoing efforts to balance an attractive trading venue for private companies while maintaining sufficient investor protections, say lawyers at Debevoise.

  • What Businesses Need To Know About EU Design Law Reform

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    Recent reforms to European Union design protection law will broaden the scope of what constitutes protected designs and products, likely creating new opportunities and considerations for businesses operating within the EU or those engaging with its markets, say lawyers at Foley & Lardner.

  • What Latest VC Model Document Revisions Offer UK Investors

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    Recent updates to the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association model documents, reflecting prevailing U.K. market practice on early-stage equity financing terms and increasing focus on compliance issues, provide needed protection for investors in relation to the growth in global foreign direct investment regimes, say lawyers at Davis Polk.

  • Protecting Brand Identity In An AI-Driven Marketplace

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    A lawsuit recently filed in New York federal court marks a critical moment in the intersection of artificial intelligence and trademark law, underscoring the importance of — and challenges surrounding — IP owners' ability to protect their brands as AI-generated content continues to grow, says Wendy Heilbut at Heilbut LLC.

  • Opinion

    UK Gov't Needs To Take Action To Support Whistleblowing Bill

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    With a proposed Office of the Whistleblower Bill making its way through the U.K. Parliament, whistleblowing is starting to receive the attention it deserves, but the key to unlocking real change is for the government to take ownership of reform proposals and appoint an overarching whistleblowing champion, says Baroness Susan Kramer at the House of Lords.

  • Roundup

    Practice Leader Insights

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    Practice group leaders share thoughts on keeping the pulse on legal trends, tackling difficult cases and what it takes to make a mark in their area in this Expert Analysis series.

  • Opt-Out Strategy Considerations After Ruling In UPC Appeal

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    The Court of Appeal of the Unified Patent Court in AIM Sport Development v. Supponor recently clarified the circumstances under which a withdrawal of an opt-out from UPC jurisdiction is possible, bringing new strategic considerations for both patentees and potential defendants, say lawyers at Finnegan.

  • Opinion

    EU's AI Code Of Practice Creates Risk Of Regulatory Clashes

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    The second draft of the European Commission's Artificial Intelligence Code of Practice significantly expands beyond the European Union's existing legal framework for AI — especially around copyright protection, public transparency and reporting obligations — and risks interfering with other EU laws by introducing requirements contrary to existing regulations, say lawyers at MoFo.

  • Rethinking 'No Comment' For Clients Facing Public Crises

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    “No comment” is no longer a cost-free or even a viable public communications strategy for companies in crisis, and counsel must tailor their guidance based on a variety of competing factors to help clients emerge successfully, says Robert Bowers at Moore & Van Allen.

  • Key Points From Gov't Consultation On Copyright And AI

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    The U.K. government’s current consultation on mitigating artificial intelligence input and output risks to copyright holders seeks to facilitate copyright holders in bringing actions against AI developers that make unauthorized use of protected works and mandate consistent labeling of AI-generated content, say lawyers at Deloitte.

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