Intellectual Property UK

  • December 05, 2025

    Dryrobe Wins TM Battle Over Rival's 'D-Robe' Brand

    Dryrobe Ltd. has won its case that a rival infringed its trademark with a "D-Robe" brand, with a London court ruling that the rival had been warned by its graphic designer that the "D-Robe" logo was potentially too similar but adopted it anyway. 

  • December 05, 2025

    Microsoft Granted Appeal In £270M Reseller Class Action

    A London tribunal has allowed Microsoft to appeal against its ruling that it cannot exercise control over products it has licensed to resellers, saying there is no "clear authority" on points of law related to that issue, so the software giant has a chance of succeeding.

  • December 05, 2025

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

    This past week in London has seen Mozambique sue the late tycoon Iskandar Safa's family and Privinvest amid the wider $1.9 billion "tuna bond" fraud case, Entain face a claim from a major U.S. pensions agency, and a Mexican lawyer accused of embezzlement bring legal action against Travelers Insurance Co. 

  • December 05, 2025

    Edwards Lifesciences Bags Prosthetic Valve Patent In EU

    European appellate officials have upheld a bid by Edwards Lifesciences Corp. to patent a prosthetic heart valve based on one of its amendments, ruling that the added feature of an atrial sealing member with a polyester layer was new.

  • December 05, 2025

    Gap Unit Takes Slim Victory In 'Athleta' TM Appeal

    A London appeals court on Friday broadened a Gap subsidiary's victory in its "Athleta" trademark battle, ruling that a Danish rival ripped off the brand by selling clothes bearing "Athlecia" logos.

  • December 05, 2025

    Stuntmen Sue Over Use Of 'Kingsman' Clip In Elton John Tour

    Two stunt performers have alleged that a production company handed over a clip from a British spy film featuring them that was used in Elton John's "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" stage show without their consent.

  • December 05, 2025

    BAT Unit Snuffs Out Philip Morris' Safer E-Cig Patent

    European appellate officials have rejected a bid by Philip Morris to patent a safer vaping device, ruling that a prior invention had already added temperature sensors and a disabling "wait mode" feature for safety concerns. 

  • December 04, 2025

    Bobcat Says Caterpillar Reverse-Engineered Loader Parts

    Construction equipment maker Doosan Bobcat has accused rival Caterpillar Inc. of breaking down products to look for ways to engineer them, especially skid-steer loaders, excavators and dozers, in a pair of patent infringement lawsuits it brought in Texas federal court and the U.S. International Trade Commission.

  • December 04, 2025

    Ralph Lauren Can't Block 'U.S. Grand Polo' TM

    American fashion giant Ralph Lauren has failed to convince British officials that a rival's mark of a polo rider should face the chopping block, as its addition of a hat and varied text did not breach their prior settlement deal. 

  • December 04, 2025

    ECJ Clarifies Copyright Rules For Utilitarian Objects

    The European Union's top court has clarified the eligibility of utilitarian objects for copyright protection, ruling Thursday that applied art is no different from other subject matter when it comes to assessing originality.

  • December 04, 2025

    Brake Manufacturer Denies Breaching Rival's Patents

    A brake manufacturer has asked a London judge to nix a rival's patents and dismiss allegations that its repairs of existing brake calipers actually constituted a new product. 

  • December 04, 2025

    Microsoft Loses 'Flip' TM For E-Classrooms Over Non-Use

    Microsoft has failed to hold onto its European Union trademark "Flip" for its online classroom platform, as officials held the company had not used it commercially in the last five years. 

  • December 04, 2025

    BioMarin Loses Hormone Patent In Europe

    A European appeals panel has stripped U.S. biotech firm BioMarin of its patent for a hormone that helps regulate heart and bone health, following a challenge from a Danish rival.

  • December 03, 2025

    Novartis, Swiss Marketer Want Out Of Trade Secrets Suit

    A Swiss marketing company and its founder have joined pharmaceutical giant Novartis in asking a Manhattan federal judge to release them from a hedge fund's suit accusing the founder of brokering business meetings with Novartis in a scheme to steal its strategy, claiming the suit is merely an attempt to punish Novartis for placing money with a competitor.

  • December 03, 2025

    Lucasfilm Asks Court To Toss CGI Peter Cushing Image Claim

    Counsel for Lucasfilm and a Disney subsidiary have asked the Court of Appeal to throw out a claim that it should have sought permission from another production company to reproduce Peter Cushing's likeness in "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story."

  • December 03, 2025

    European Board Denies Siemens Hydrocarbon-Making Patent

    European officials have rejected Siemens' bid to patent a method of making hydrocarbon products, ruling that its claims added details that weren't found in the original application and were therefore unpatentable.

  • December 03, 2025

    Abbott Defends Glucose Monitor Patents In Sinocare Fight

    Abbott has denied Sinocare's claims that its patents are invalid and asserted that the use of several screen features provided benefits to device users, accusing its rival once more of selling glucose monitors that infringe its intellectual property.

  • December 03, 2025

    InterDigital Seeks Arbitration In Amazon Patent Dispute

    InterDigital told a judge Wednesday that the English courts should not issue final license terms in its global patent licensing dispute with Amazon, arguing that the matter should be dealt with by way of arbitration.

  • December 03, 2025

    Lego Accuses UK Retailer Of Selling Knockoff Toys

    Lego has asked a London court to curb a British retailer's model toy sales, accusing the company of selling knockoff sets on two websites that infringe its copyright, trademarks and designs.

  • December 02, 2025

    Jorja Smith's Label Wants Royalties From Viral AI Hit

    The independent music label of British R&B singer Jorja Smith wants the producer of a viral artificial intelligence-generated track to hand over a share of his profits to Smith and her songwriters after copying her vocals, the label claims, writing in an Instagram post, "We cannot allow this to be the new normal."

  • December 02, 2025

    SEP Owner Wins OK To Forge Ahead With Vivo FRAND Claim

    Sun Patent Trust has asked the Unified Patent Court to determine a FRAND rate for its wireless device patents in a claim with Chinese smartphone company Vivo, according to a newly public order from the appeals court.

  • December 02, 2025

    Camper Footwear Brand Wins TM Battle At EUIPO

    Spanish shoe retailer Camper has persuaded European Union officials to block a Chinese company's "NuCamper" trademark application, proving that shoppers could muddle up the two brands.

  • December 02, 2025

    Disney Beats Designer's Bid For 'Mickey Is Free!' TM

    A Norwegian designer has failed to convince European officials that he should be able to sell streetwear stamped with the trademark "Mickey is Free!" — even with a disclaimer saying it had "nada, niente" to do with the Disney character. 

  • December 02, 2025

    US Musicians And Actors Say UK Breached Royalties Treaties

    Trade unions representing U.S. actors and musicians urged a London court Tuesday to reverse secondary legislation that altered U.K. copyright law, saying it had unlawfully breached international treaties governing royalty payments for audio recordings.

  • December 02, 2025

    Gola Trainers Owner Sues Clarks Over Stripe Design

    The owner of the classic Gola trainer has accused Clarks of selling shoes that copy a specific protected stripe logo on its side, which it said was confusing shoppers and leading them to buy the rival footwear. 

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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • What 2025 Holds For UK, EU Restructuring And Insolvency

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    European Union and U.K. restructuring developments in 2024, with a new era of director accountability, the use of cramdown tools and the emergence of aggressive liability management exercises, mean greater consideration of creditors' interests and earlier engagement in restructuring discussions can be expected this year, says Inga West at Ashurst.

  • What To Know As EU Urges Outbound Investment Reviews

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    A recent European Commission recommendation urges European Union member states to review outbound investments in certain critical technologies sectors, but does not clarify the next steps for states once information on relevant transactions in third countries is received, say lawyers at Cleary.

  • Exam Board Ruling Expands Scope Of 'Newcomer Injunctions'

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    The High Court's recent decision granting AQA Education a digital "newcomer injunction" prevents anonymous internet users from distributing unlawfully obtained exam materials, and extends the scope of such injunctions from issues of trespass to the protection of confidential information, say lawyers at Fieldfisher.

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