Intellectual Property UK

  • September 18, 2026

    Oxford Nanopore Wins UPC Ban Over BGI's DNA Sequencers

    Europe's patent court has granted Oxford Nanopore a preliminary injunction and ordered a biotech firm associated with BGI Group to stop infringing two patents covering DNA sequencing devices.

  • September 18, 2026

    WH Smith Sues Former Indian Franchisee For Infringing Brand

    WH Smith has sued a former Indian franchisee for more than £5 million ($6.7 million) for allegedly continuing to use the travel retailer's branding after the franchise agreement ended and failing to pay years of fees.

  • September 18, 2026

    Case Stays Don't Reset The Clock On Deadlines, UPC Says

    The Unified Patent Court has rejected a Belgian printing company's bid for more time to defend itself against a rival's patent infringement claim, ruling that a stay for settlement negotiations did not reset the clock for filing deadlines.

  • September 18, 2026

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

    The past week in London has seen Victoria's Secret and Thomas Pink file competing IP claims, more than 1,000 retail consumers launch a group action against Binance, Baker Hughes targeted in a commercial claim by its former Russian subsidiary and university students hit four British institutions with breach of contract claims over pandemic-era closures.

  • September 18, 2026

    UPC Taps Two Judges For Paris, Mannheim Divisions

    The Unified Patent Court has appointed two judges to its Court of First Instance as it continues to expand its bench across Europe.

  • September 17, 2026

    UPC Says National Laws Govern Repeat Patent Challenges

    Appellate judges for the Unified Patent Court have held that national law dictates whether courts have the final say on patent validity within its jurisdiction, backing a lower court's decision to not rule on specific issues already addressed in parallel German litigation.

  • September 24, 2026

    Freshfields IP Litigator Joins Carpmaels & Ransford

    Carpmaels & Ransford LLP said Thursday it has hired an intellectual property litigator from Freshfields LLP, bolstering its ranks with expertise in both London's courts and the Unified Patent Court.

  • September 17, 2026

    US Gov't Wins Appeal Over COVID-19 Vaccine Patent

    The U.S. government has won a second shot at patenting a technique to make coronavirus spike proteins for use in vaccines, as a European appellate panel found that an amended version of claims had eliminated a problematic feature.

  • September 17, 2026

    Biotech Biz Can't Use UK Docs In Parallel UPC CRISPR Case

    Europe's patent court has refused to order a biotech company to hand over documents submitted in parallel U.K. proceedings over CRISPR technology, ruling that two rivals should have asked the British judge instead.

  • September 17, 2026

    Boston Scientific Can't Dislodge Rival's Heart Valve Patent

    A medical device maker has preserved its patent for a prosthetic heart valve after a European appellate board upheld a narrower version of its claims, despite a rival's arguments that earlier devices already disclosed its key features. 

  • September 17, 2026

    Hamleys Hits Back At Jellycat Over Smiling Plushies

    Hamleys has pushed back against a claim by Jellycat that it copied its smiling plush toys, arguing that other retailers sold food-inspired anthropomorphic plushies long before the toymaker launched its range.

  • September 16, 2026

    Netflix Hit With Video Playback Restrictions In Europe

    The Unified Patent Court has told Netflix to stop providing streaming services that infringe a U.S. company's patent for a way of watching videos that are not fully downloaded.

  • September 16, 2026

    GM Can't Get EU TM For 'Super Cruise' System

    General Motors cannot secure European trademark rights for its hands-free driving system Super Cruise, with the EU's Intellectual Property Office holding that the name is too descriptive to warrant protection.

  • September 16, 2026

    Insurance Broker Blocks Maritime Fund Manager's 'EMF' TM

    An insurance broker has convinced European officials to nix a finance company's trademark for "EMF," after showing that clients might believe the rival's services are linked to its existing EFM brand.

  • September 16, 2026

    Jellycat Sues Home Bargains Over Knockoff Plushies

    Jellycat has sued Home Bargains for allegedly selling copycat versions of its popular smiling plush toys, arguing that shoppers would struggle to tell them apart because of their cute anthropomorphic features.

  • September 16, 2026

    Lost Mary Vape's Owner Defeats TM Bid For 'Lost Angel'

    The owner of the popular "Lost Mary" vape brand has persuaded European officials to deny a rival's trademark for "Lost Angel" after showing that shoppers would probably think the two were connected. 

  • September 15, 2026

    InterDigital Sues Disney For €102M Over Streaming IP

    InterDigital has filed yet another claim against Disney in an international fight over video streaming technology, this time asking a German court to make Disney pay €101.7 million ($117.4 million) in damages for the unauthorized use of its patented technology.

  • September 15, 2026

    Music Promoters Ordered To Pay £1.4M In Licensing Dispute

    A London judge on Tuesday ordered two music promotion companies to pay £1.4 million ($1.8 million) to NoCopyrightSounds Ltd. as an interim sum in an ongoing licensing dispute, after the companies themselves acknowledged they still owed millions of dollars to the royalty-free music label. 

  • September 15, 2026

    Dutch Court Pauses CRISPR Patent Battle Over EPO Appeal

    A Dutch court has put two cases involving a CRISPR patent to edit DNA on hold, ruling that its hands were tied until the European Patent Office has heard an appeal from the patent owner following its revocation. 

  • September 15, 2026

    Debenhams Sells Nasty Gal For $16M To Von Dutch Owner

    Debenhams Group said Tuesday that it has sold women's fast-fashion brand Nasty Gal to White Space Group New York for $16 million, after recently announcing the sale of a distribution center to Primark. 

  • September 15, 2026

    Black Lives Matter Denied TM For Anti-Racist Slogan

    The civil rights organization behind Black Lives Matter has failed to register the phrase as a trademark, as European officials ruled that the public would see it as an anti-racism slogan rather than a name tied exclusively to the group.

  • September 15, 2026

    Manufacturer Defends Validity Of Pipe Connector Patent

    A manufacturer of plumbing fittings has defended the validity of its patent for a tool that joins pipework without welding amid its infringement claim against a distributor in a London court.

  • September 14, 2026

    Moderna Can't Trim BioNTech's RNA Infringement Claim

    The Unified Patent Court has denied Moderna's early attempt to narrow a BioNTech unit's RNA infringement claim, ruling that the company's jurisdictional challenge must wait until the case is in full swing.

  • September 14, 2026

    Fashion Label Denies Improper Use Of Photographer's Images

    Fairfax & Favor has denied misusing a photographer's copyright protected work, arguing that he agreed to transfer the rights in his photos to the English luxury brand as part of their initial licensing agreement.

  • September 14, 2026

    Fish Vase Business Pours Cold Water On Rival's Dutch Sales

    A manufacturer has convinced a Dutch court to stop a U.K. competitor from selling fish-shaped vases under the name Bubble Jug, after demonstrating that consumers could confuse them with its established Gluggle Jug range.

Expert Analysis

  • Prospects And Challenges For Expert Evidence At The UPC

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    Expert testimony on economic or damages-related issues will likely play a larger part in Unified Patent Court proceedings in the near future, potentially presenting unique challenges for experts, counsel and judges alike, say analysts at Charles River.

  • 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.

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