Intellectual Property UK

  • June 08, 2026

    Philip Morris Unit Bests BAT Over Tobacco-Free Pouch Patent

    British American Tobacco has failed to convince European officials to scrap a Philip Morris unit's patent for a tobacco-free nicotine pouch after an appellate board found that the company relied on earlier designs that provided different features.

  • June 08, 2026

    US Arms-Maker Accuses UK Rival Of Copying Drone Tech

    A U.S. defense contractor has accused British rival Overwatch Group of deliberately copying its drone design to secure lucrative defense contracts, including one with the U.K. Ministry of Defence.

  • June 08, 2026

    EUIPO Trims TfL Roundel Logo Over Unused Goods

    Transport for London has partially lost protection to use its signature roundel logo for a range of retail services after European officials ruled that the authority failed to provide enough evidence it had really used the design.

  • June 08, 2026

    Icelandic State's Seafood Biz Can't Block 'Icelandium' EU TM

    The European Union has refused to toss a Spanish frozen fish retailer's "Icelandium" trademark application, ruling that there is no risk of confusion with the "Icelandic Seafood" brand that belongs to a state-owned company in Iceland.

  • June 08, 2026

    'Magic Mushroom Cabin' Owners Sue Britvic Over Photo Use

    A couple who let out a hut at their rural home have sued U.K. beverage giant Britvic Soft Drinks Ltd. for infringing on their copyright to a photograph of the cabin, saying their brand is not "naturally aligned" with the beverage maker.

  • June 08, 2026

    Takeda Hits Back At Stada's ADHD Drug IP Challenge

    Takeda has defended the validity of its extended patent protections for ADHD drug Elvanse, asking a London court to reject Stada's attempt to quash a U.K. supplementary protection certificate, or SPC, for the treatment.

  • June 05, 2026

    HP Beats Cartridge Dominance Claim At Top Dutch Court

    The Dutch Supreme Court dismissed an appeal on Friday by a printer cartridge retailer contending that HP has abused its dominant position in the printer cartridge market, after the tech giant barred the shop from selling allegedly infringing cartridges.

  • June 05, 2026

    Dell Blocks Chinese Co.'s 'Delwit' TM In EU

    Dell has persuaded the European Union to block a Chinese company's "Delwit" trademark application, proving that its opponent could take unfair advantage of the computer giant's reputation among shoppers in the bloc.

  • June 05, 2026

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

    The past week in London has seen the U.K.'s oldest Indian restaurant launch an appeal against King Charles III's property company in an effort to stop its eviction, trustees of a bankrupt former EY tax partner file a claim against his wife, and 37 leading insurers bring a lawsuit against agrichemical company Syngenta over an insurance dispute. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.

  • June 05, 2026

    J&J Unit Didn't Properly Serve Drug Patent Claim, US Says

    The U.S. told a London court on Friday that a Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical unit failed to properly serve a patent revocation claim over a blood cancer treatment, arguing that it did not use the required diplomatic channels.

  • June 05, 2026

    Mayo Clinic Fends Off Rival's 'Mayclinik' TM For Medical Use

    U.S. research facility Mayo Clinic has partially succeeded in blocking a Turkish cosmetic surgery business from using the trademark "Mayclinik" in the medical field, showing that patients are likely to confuse the two.

  • June 04, 2026

    Electrolux Sued For Over £200M Amid Failed 'FridgeCam' Deal

    A British smart appliance manufacturer has sued Electrolux in a London court for more than £200 million ($268 million), accusing the company of pinching secret designs and tanking the value of its business.

  • June 04, 2026

    Packaging Co. Sues Perfume Biz Over Fungi Tray Design

    A fungi-based packaging company has accused organic perfume brand Ffern of stealing the design for its biodegradable fragrance trays after their commercial partnership came to an end.

  • June 04, 2026

    Ralph Lauren Reins In Rival's Bid For Polo TM

    Polo convinced European officials on Thursday to block a Chinese entrepreneur from registering a logo of a mounted polo player for clothing products after demonstrating that the mark risked free-riding on its Ralph Lauren brand.

  • June 04, 2026

    DAZN Says Canal+ Owes €2M In Tennis Licensing Fees

    Sports broadcaster DAZN has sued Canal+ for more than €2.1 million ($2.4 million) in a London court, accusing the French television company of failing to make numerous payments under their €30 million women's tennis licensing deal.

  • June 04, 2026

    AI Co. Midnight Labs Gets Sony Innovation Fund Investment

    Midnight Labs, a Dublin-based artificial intelligence company focused on intellectual property enforcement, announced Thursday it received an investment from the Sony Innovation Fund to expand its software in the U.S. and Japanese markets.

  • June 03, 2026

    Google Ordered To Let Publishers Opt Out Of AI Search

    The U.K.'s competition regulator said Wednesday it would require Google to let publishers opt to keep their content out of the tech giant's artificial intelligence search features, in a move to give media greater bargaining power to pursue licensing agreements.

  • June 03, 2026

    Chelsea Club Can't Keep TM For Unused Goods At EUIPO

    Chelsea Football Club has partially lost a trademark for its official logo in black and white over keys, newspapers and other goods after European officials ruled there wasn't evidence showing the mark was being genuinely used to sell them.

  • June 03, 2026

    Premier League 'Hall Of Fame' TM Trimmed At EUIPO

    European Union officials have narrowed the Premier League's "Hall of Fame" trademark application, ruling that consumers could mix up the sign with an existing "Hall of Fame" brand belonging to Spain's basketball federation.

  • June 03, 2026

    UPC Appeals Court Stakes Authority Over UK Patent Claims

    Appellate judges at the Unified Patent Court have resolutely confirmed that the unitary forum has the jurisdiction to hear infringement claims connected with the U.K. parts of European patents.

  • June 03, 2026

    Language Platform Babbel Loses Protection For Retired TM

    Language learning app Babbel has lost the right to a retired trademark used in connection with electronic teaching and software services, after European officials found the company had not provided evidence it had used its name commercially in that space in the last five years.

  • June 02, 2026

    Airbnb Beats Eco-Friendly Platform's TM For Short Stays

    Airbnb has convinced European officials that a rival should not be allowed to use "Ecobnb" to market temporary accommodation, after showing that the sustainable tourism platform hadn't used its sign for years for several registered services.

  • June 02, 2026

    UPC Officially Debuts Arbitration Center In Slovenia

    The Unified Patent Court said Tuesday that it has formally opened its long-awaited patent mediation and arbitration center, following its inauguration in Slovenia.

  • June 02, 2026

    Chanel Blocks Cosmetics Brand's Bid For 'Incoco' TM

    Chanel has successfully blocked a U.S. cosmetics brand from using the trademark "Incoco" for makeup and perfume products after demonstrating that consumers would associate the word with its founder Coco Chanel.

  • June 09, 2026

    Kirkland Hires Three New Square Barrister As IP Partner

    Kirkland & Ellis LLP has recruited an intellectual property barrister from Three New Square as a partner in its London office, adding experience in high-stakes life sciences litigation that involves companies such as Abbott and Teva.

Expert Analysis

  • What New Int'l Treaty Means For Global AI Regulation

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    Lawyers at Bird & Bird consider how global artificial intelligence regulation will be affected by the first international AI treaty recently signed by the U.S., EU and U.K., as well as its implications for business and several issues that stakeholders should be aware of.

  • HMRC Transfer Pricing Guide A Vital Resource For Businesses

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    HM Revenue & Customs' recent guidelines on common transfer pricing compliance risks should be required reading for affected businesses in indicating HMRC's expected benchmark for documents and policies, say Tomoko Ikawa and Kapisha Vyas at Simmons & Simmons.

  • Comparing Apples To Oranges In EPO Claim Interpretation

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    A referral before the Enlarged Board of Appeal could fundamentally change the role that descriptions play in claims interpretation at the European Patent Office, altering best drafting practices for patent applications construed there, say lawyers at Finnegan.

  • Why India May Become A Major Patent Litigation Forum

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    India is reinventing itself with the goal of becoming a global hot spot for patent litigation, with recent developments at the Delhi High Court creating incentives for plaintiffs to assert patent rights in India, say Ranganath Sudarshan at Covington and IP litigator Udit Sood.

  • Takeaways From UPC's Amgen Patent Invalidity Analysis

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    The Unified Patent Court Central Division's decision in Regeneron v. Amgen to revoke a patent for lack of inventive step is particularly clear in its reasoning and highlights the risks to patentees of the new court's central revocation powers, say Jane Evenson and Caitlin Heard at CMS.

  • UK Approach To AI Patentability Appears Settled For Now

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    After a High Court ruling upended the status quo last year, the Court of Appeal’s recent decision that Emotional Perception’s artificial neural network is not patentable represents a return to the U.K.’s familiar, albeit often complex, approach to patentability of artificial intelligence technology and computer programs generally, say lawyers at Potter Clarkson.

  • AI Reforms Prompt Fintech Compliance Considerations

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    With the EU Artificial Intelligence Act's Aug. 1 enforcement, and the U.K.'s new plans to introduce AI reforms, fintech companies should consider how to best focus limited resources as they balance innovation and compliance, says Nicola Kerr-Shaw at Skadden.

  • 10 Ways To Manage AI Risks In Service Contracts

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    With the European Union Artificial Intelligence Act coming into force on Aug. 1 and introducing a new regulatory risk, and with AI technology continuing to develop at pace, parties to services arrangements should employ mechanisms now to build in flexibility and get on the front foot, says James Longster at Travers Smith.

  • What Future May Hold For AI Innovation In UK Under Labour

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    Labour’s recent King's Speech was notable in its absence of discussion of a comprehensive artificial intelligence bill, and while this may indicate to many that the UK is open for business, the party’s approach to cross-sectoral engagement will be critical for shaping Britain's AI landscape in the near term, says Alexander Amato-Cravero at Herbert Smith.

  • Don't Wing Settlements: Lessons From Morley's TM Ruling

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    In Morley's v. Sivakumar, the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court recently found that a fast-food franchiser had breached a fried chicken franchise's trademark rights, despite a prior settlement agreement, offering lessons on drafting express terms to ensure IP protection, say Nessa Khandaker and Clare Cornell at Finnegan.

  • Use Or Lose It: European TM Ruling Stresses 'Genuine Use'

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    The European Union General Court recently dismissed an action to revoke trademark protections for a lack of use in Sta Grupa v. EU Intellectual Property Office, offering significant insight into the intricacies of assessing evidence of genuine use in revocation actions, says Sumi Nadarajah at FRKelly.

  • 1 Year At The UPC: Implications For Transatlantic Disputes

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    In its first year, the Unified Patent Court has issued important decisions on procedures like provisional measures, but complexities remain when it comes to coordinating proceedings across jurisdictions like the U.S. due to differences in timelines and discovery practices, say attorneys at McDermott.

  • Trends, Tips From 7 Years Of EPO Antibody Patent Appeals

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    Recent years of European Patent Office decisions reveal some surprising differences between appeals involving therapeutic antibody patents and those for other technologies, offering useful insight into this developing area of European case law for future antibody patent applicants, say Alex Epstein and Jane Evenson at CMS.

  • Companies Trading In The EU Should Heed Mondelēz Ruling

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    The European Commission’s recent €337.5 million fine of Mondelēz is the latest decision targeting restrictions on EU cross-border trade, and serves as a warning to companies active in the region to check their contracts and practices for illegal restraints, and to perform audits to ensure compliance, says Matthew Hall at McGuireWoods.

  • 4 Takeaways From Biotech Patent Invalidity Ruling

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    The recent Patents Court decision in litigation between Advanced Cell Diagnostics and Molecular Instruments offers noteworthy commentary on issues related to experiments done in the ordinary course of business, joint importation, common general knowledge and mindset, and mosaicking for anticipation, say Nessa Khandaker and Darren Jiron at Finnegan.

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