Intellectual Property UK

  • 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.

  • September 14, 2026

    Sony, Universal Join Push Against Music Streaming Fraud

    Sony and Universal joined numerous other music companies on Monday in forming a new group aimed at ousting fraudsters who artificially inflate streaming numbers to generate royalty payments.

  • September 14, 2026

    Hitachi Voids Toshiba's Insulation Patent On Appeal

    A European appeals panel has upheld Hitachi's challenge to Toshiba's gas insulation patent, ruling in a decision released Monday that the patent is unlawfully broader than the initial application.

  • September 11, 2026

    Firm Can't Nix Already Expired 'easyDrive' TM

    European officials rejected Kilburn & Strode LLP's bid to nix a trademark for "easydrive" because it was expired and had "already ceased to exist" when the firm filed its application.

  • September 11, 2026

    InterDigital Avoids Disclosure Of License Agreements To TCL

    Europe's patent court has rejected TCL's bid to force InterDigital to disclose certain license agreements, ruling that it wasn't clear whether TCL was even willing to take a license covering the American company's standard essential video-coding patents. 

  • September 11, 2026

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

    The past week in London has seen Pogust Goodhead embroiled in a legal dispute with claimants in the Mariana dam litigation, and be sued by a barrister who represented it during the case, and Mexican broadcaster TV Azteca file commercial fraud claims against Barclays and Metro Bank.

  • September 11, 2026

    Airbnb Wins EU Row Over 'Abnbx' Crypto Software Mark

    Airbnb has won a bid to invalidate a German company's "Abnbx" trademark after European officials found that the mark was deliberately chosen to "piggyback" on the holiday rental giant's reputation.

  • September 11, 2026

    Everton FC Hits Back At Artist Over Stadium Artwork

    Everton Football Club has pushed back against an artist's copyright infringement claim over its use of his painting at its stadium, arguing that it voluntarily removed the artwork and that his proposed licensing fee is excessive.

  • September 10, 2026

    Licensing Biz Teams With Canon, Sony To Launch Patent Pool

    A patent licensing business said Thursday that it has launched a program that will provide companies with access to over 120,000 advanced digital imaging patents owned by companies like Canon and Sony.

  • September 10, 2026

    OpenAI Can't Block Developer's 'ChainGPT' TM In UK

    OpenAI has failed to stop an AI blockchain platform from registering the trademark "ChainGPT" after U.K. officials said consumers wouldn't confuse the sign with ChatGPT because the name itself was too descriptive.

  • September 10, 2026

    EUIPO Could Value IP To Help Startups Access Loans

    The European Union Intellectual Property Office has proposed reforms that could help startups secure bank loans by valuing their patent portfolios.

  • September 10, 2026

    Coty Blocks Reseller's Perfume Sales In EU TM Battle

    A Dutch court has granted perfume giant Coty a temporary injunction blocking a car and cosmetics reseller from trading allegedly stolen perfumes across the European Union, after the company failed to mount a defense against its trademark infringement claims.

  • September 10, 2026

    Entain Must Bolster Copyright Claim To Keep Case Alive

    A London court said Thursday that it will throw out Entain's copyright claim against a matched betting website operator unless the gambling giant provides more details to back up its allegations.

  • September 09, 2026

    'Gong Cha' Bubble Tea Brand Blocks Appeal For Rival 'Gotcha' TM

    An EU court has dismissed a company's attempt to revive its "Gotcha" trademark, ruling that customers might mix it up with global bubble tea brand Gong Cha.

  • September 09, 2026

    Earplug Maker Loop Can Keep Design For Baby Earmuffs

    An earplug manufacturer has failed to persuade a Dutch court that rival Loop copied its design for baby earmuffs, with the court ruling that the competing products offered designs that were sufficiently different from one another.

  • September 09, 2026

    Nutrition Biz Restores 'Nutristar' TM On Appeal At EU Court

    An Italian nutrition company persuaded a European court Wednesday to revive its "Nutristar" trademark for animal feed products, after showing that an appeals board overlooked evidence that it had been used commercially in the last five years.

  • September 09, 2026

    Software Biz Loses Appeal To Revive 'Papyros' TM In EU

    A European Union court refused Wednesday to restore an IT company's "papyros by Modus" trademark, finding that software customers could confuse it with rival Isis Papyrus Europe AG's existing "Papyrus" mark for computer-related goods.

  • September 09, 2026

    Florist Infringed Rival Mark By Causing Customer Confusion

    A luxury florist infringed a rival's "Flowerbx" trademark by trading as "Flowers Box," causing customers seeking out its competitor to mistakenly buy flowers from the wrong company, a London court has ruled.

  • September 08, 2026

    Financial Adviser Denies Ripping Off Ex-Employer's Brand

    A financial adviser has denied unlawfully trading under the previous brand of his former employer, telling a London court that he adopted the moniker because it incorporates his surname.

  • September 08, 2026

    Ikea Political Ad Spoof Likely Infringes TM, EU Court Rules

    The EU's top court ruled Tuesday that freedom of expression can justify political spoofs of a famous trademark, but indicated that a far-right Belgian party's Ikea-themed anti-immigration campaign may have crossed the line.

  • September 08, 2026

    Jamaican Patty Co. 'Flake Bake' Crunches Rival's TM Attack

    British officials have nixed a Jamaican patty brand's trademark for "Flakey Bakes," ruling that it was registered in bad faith to undermine the interests of a rival brand that has been selling "Flake Bake" patties for more than a decade.

  • September 08, 2026

    Elle Magazine Blocks 'Elle Legal Solution' TM For Legal Tech

    The fashion magazine Elle has blocked a legal technology company from registering the trademark "Elle Legal Solution," after European officials found that consumers could mistake the sign for a subbrand of its beauty and lifestyle content.

  • September 08, 2026

    UPC Confirms Fintech Co. Can Seek Patent Infringement Proof

    The Unified Patent Court has upheld a financial technology company's permission to inspect a rival's documents and data amid the pair's ongoing tax software infringement dispute.

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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