Analysis

The Biggest UK IP Developments Of 2025

By Alex Baldwin

European courts opened the door to rule on patent infringement outside the bloc in 2025, the first decision on infringement of generative artificial intelligence was handed down by an English court, and the U.K.'s top court held that confusion between trademarks can be considered after a product sale.

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BioNTech Defends Cancer Vaccine Patent At EPO

By Jamie Lennox

BioNTech has fought off the latest challenge to a cancer vaccine patent that it holds jointly with researchers at a German university, convincing a European appeals panel that the treatment is both new and inventive.

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US Polo Association Loses Part Of EU Logo Protection

By Hanna Vioque

An Italian designer has convinced European officials to partially nix a trademark owned by the U.S. Polo Association, after the polo association failed to show that it had genuinely used the sign displaying two players on horseback in order to sell a handful of registered products.

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Brewery Accuses Distillery Of Copying 'Titanic' Branding

By Jamie Lennox

A British brewery has accused a distillery of deliberately copying its "Titanic" branding to trick consumers into thinking that the two companies are connected, asking a London court to step in and halt its rival's alleged passing off.

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Janssen Argues Patents Over Schizophrenia Drug Are Novel

By Eddie Beaver

Janssen has denied a rival's claim that the court should revoke its two patents covering how an injectable form of schizophrenia medication should be given to patients who miss a dose, arguing the patents are inventive and new.

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Nicoventures Has Smokable Material Patent Remitted In EU

By Hanna Vioque

A Japanese tobacco giant has partially won its bid to nix a British American Tobacco unit's patent for a smoking device component, after European appellate officials found that examiners were wrong to uphold one amendment and needed to consider others instead.

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Brief

Ferrero Unit Bags 'Ferrero Rocher' TM For Ice Cream

By Max Austin

A manufacturer owned by Ferrero Group has won its case for the trademark "Ferrero Rocher," after European Union officials ruled that a competitor could not claim exclusive rights over the depiction of a chocolate-coated ice cream bar. 

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Brief

EPO's Top Board Rejects Ballistic Vests Appeal

By Laura Stewart Liberty

A German body armor company has lost its bid to revive an appeal over a rival's anti-ballistic protection patent, as a European patent authority dismissed its complaints over errors in an earlier ruling.

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