Intellectual Property UK

  • April 29, 2026

    Pfizer, BioNTech Defeat Moderna COVID Jab Patent

    Pfizer and BioNTech have convinced European appellate officials to nix a Moderna patent for a COVID-19 jab, after showing that its patented claims added details that weren't in the original application about which virus-fighting protein the body needed to make and how. 

  • April 29, 2026

    Merck Says Rival MSD Wants Secret Files For Foreign Cases

    German drugmaker Merck KGaA told a London court on Wednesday that pharmaceutical company Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC is making a bid "bordering on abusive" to access a cache of confidential files disclosed during a trademark dispute between the pair in order to pursue foreign litigation.

  • April 29, 2026

    Nike Unit Stomps Out Tire Retailer's Bid For 'Converse' TM

    A Nike Inc. subsidiary has blocked a tire retailer's "Converse" trademark application in the U.K., proving that the brand unfairly leans on the reputation of the famous Converse footwear brand.

  • April 28, 2026

    Avanci Urges Top Court To Refuse Tesla's Bid For Rate Order

    Counsel for patent pool manager Avanci told the U.K.'s highest court Tuesday that forcing it to abide by court-determined licensing obligations could threaten the company's core business model.

  • April 28, 2026

    Medical Tech Biz Wins Appeal For Antibacterial Gel Patent

    Appellate officials have reinstated a medical technology company's patent for a gel that treats wounds by stopping bacteria from clumping together, concluding that its use of a special acid to boost the gel's antimicrobial effects is new.

  • April 28, 2026

    Sony Beats Jimi Hendrix Bandmates' Royalties Claim

    A London court ruled Tuesday that Sony does not owe any royalties to the estates of Jimi Hendrix's former bandmates stemming from its exploitation of the band's back catalog through streaming services in the U.K.

  • April 28, 2026

    Microsoft Says CAT Can't Rule On Copyright In £140M Case

    Microsoft told a London appeals court Tuesday that the Competition Appeal Tribunal lacks jurisdiction to decide copyright infringement issues underpinning a reseller's £140 million ($189 million) case over alleged anticompetitive restrictions on the secondary software market.

  • April 28, 2026

    BAT Smokes Philip Morris' WiFi-Linked Vape IP On Appeal

    Philip Morris has lost a patent over an internet-enabled vape that requires online registration before use as European appellate officials upheld claims from rival BAT that enabling the device this way was an expected development in the field.

  • April 27, 2026

    Photographers' Copyright Case Against UberEats Is Trimmed

    A Florida federal judge has dismissed part of a suit brought by a group of photographers who accused Uber of infringing their copyrights by displaying their photos on UberEats without permission, saying as to one claim that the photographers were asking the court to make too many inferences.

  • April 27, 2026

    Nina Ricci Brushes Off Lab's 'Ninettacare' EU Cosmetics TM

    Cosmetics giant Puig France has persuaded European officials to block an Italian lab from using the trademark "Ninettacare," because the competing name risked confusing shoppers interested in purchasing its own Nina Ricci makeup and lotion range.

  • April 27, 2026

    Tesla Tells Top Court Patent Pools Must Abide By FRAND

    Tesla urged the U.K.'s top court on Monday to revive the carmaker's bid to hold patent pool operator Avanci liable to set fair licensing rates, as the court reconsiders the jurisdictional limits of British courts to set licensing rates for essential patents.

  • April 27, 2026

    Font Designer Revives Royalties Claim Struck Out As Abuse

    A font designer revived her claim on Monday for an estimated £300,000 ($406,000) in unpaid royalties against a type foundry, as a London appeals court concluded that the case should not have been struck out as an abuse of process.

  • April 27, 2026

    Dior Perfume Line Blocks Brewery's 'Lucky Bastard' TM In EU

    Christian Dior's fragrance unit has persuaded European officials to nix a Czech beer maker's trademark application for "Lucky Bastard" over diet pills, after proving that shoppers might get confused and make a connection with its "Lucky"-branded luxury perfume. 

  • April 27, 2026

    UPC Allows Challenges To Validity Of Expired Patents

    The Unified Patent Court has confirmed that it will hear challenges to patents that have already expired, adding that parties may want to target expired patents to dodge historical infringement claims.

  • April 24, 2026

    Top Court Set To Rule On FRAND Obligations For Patent Pools

    The U.K. Supreme Court is set to consider Monday whether the country's courts can set licensing rates for patents offered through a patent pool for 5G-enabled vehicles, as questions mount over the U.K.'s approach to standard-essential patent litigation.

  • April 24, 2026

    UPC Says Infringement In 1 Country Justifies Broad Injunction

    Europe's patent court has ruled that infringement in just one of the countries that have signed up to it is enough to justify an injunction covering all of them, in a case over a device used in plastic surgery to create a 3D image of the face or other body parts.

  • April 24, 2026

    Nokia Wins Anti-Anti-Suit Injunction In Patent Case

    Nokia has won an anti-anti-suit injunction against Geely amid their ongoing patent licensing feud, persuading the Unified Patent Court to block the carmaker from seeking anti-suit injunctions of its own in China.

  • April 24, 2026

    Film Co. Wins Claim Co-Founder Diverted Work To Rival

    A London judge ruled Friday that a former director and co-founder of a video production company breached his duties to it by diverting business and misusing company information to run a competitor.

  • April 24, 2026

    Rolex Calls Time On Rival's 'Lolex' TM For Pillows

    Rolex has convinced European officials to nix a travel blanket maker's trademark application for "Lolex" over certain pillows, ruling that shoppers would think that the products were part of a Rolex-branded line of luxurious home furnishing.

  • April 24, 2026

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

    The past week in London has seen a Hong Kong company sue the government and a COVID-19 PPE company linked to Tory peer Michelle Mone, an oligarch bring a fresh claim against a rival in a long-running feud, a rugby league club sue over a canceled mass dance event, and Visa and Mastercard hit with legal action from H&M, Eurostar, and Bang & Olufsen. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.

  • April 23, 2026

    Copyright Deals Can Hinge On EU Contract Laws, AG Says

    An adviser to the European Union's top court clarified on Thursday when judges should interpret the validity of cross-border copyright agreements in line with the bloc's conflict-of-laws rules governing contracts.

  • April 23, 2026

    BAT Unit Beats 'Man Royals International' TM For Cigarettes

    A subsidiary of BAT has convinced European officials to nix an Iraqi manufacturer's trademark for "Man Royals International" over tobacco products after it showed that shoppers might link it to its "Royals" brand.

  • April 23, 2026

    ECJ Says Italian Laws Cannot Extend Preliminary Injunctions

    The European Union's highest court ruled Thursday that bloc members cannot keep preliminary injunctions in place in intellectual property cases once someone has missed the cutoff to formally file a claim.

  • April 23, 2026

    Crocs Loses Appeal Over Clog Similarity To 'Holey Soles'

    A European court has rejected Crocs' bid to regain exclusive rights over a clog-shoe design following a challenge from a rival shoemaker, as an earlier design for shoes branded as "Holey Soles" looked far too similar to the American company's model.

  • April 23, 2026

    Vape Co.'s Lawyer Beats Rival's UKIPO Email Contempt Claim

    A Chinese vape company and its solicitors defeated contempt proceedings over emails that asked the U.K. Intellectual Property Office to delay registering a trademark pending an appeal, as a London judge ruled on Thursday that this was "nothing improper."

Expert Analysis

  • 5 Ways To Address The Legal Risks Of Employee AI Use

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    Employees’ use of unauthorized artificial intelligence tools has become a regulatory issue, and in-house legal counsel are best placed to close the gap between governance controls and innovation, mitigating the risk of organizations' exposure to noncompliance with European Union and U.K. data protection requirements, say lawyers at MoFo.

  • EU-US Data Transfer Ruling Offers Reassurance To Cos.

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    The European Union General Court’s recent upholding of the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework in Latombe v. European Commission, although subject to appeal, provides companies with legal certainty for the first time by allowing the transfer of European Economic Area personal data without relying on alternative mechanisms, say lawyers at Wilson Sonsini.

  • Between The Lines Of EPO's Adoption Of Color Drawings

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    The European Patent Office's decision to accept patent drawings in color starting in October may enhance clarity in technical disclosures and streamline the examination process, and could also enable new patent filing strategies for international applicants, say attorneys at Miller Canfield.

  • How WTO's Anti-Suit Injunction Ruling Affects IP Stakeholders

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    The World Trade Organization's recent ruling in favor of the European Union's challenge to Chinese courts' anti-suit injunction practices should hearten holders of standard-essential patents, while implementers can take solace that they retain mechanisms to distinguish the WTO decision when seeking anti-suit injunctions in U.S. courts, says Michael Franzinger at Dentons.

  • How Logo Confusion Ruling Expands TM Protection

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    The U.K. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Iconix v. Dream Pairs confirms that postsale confusion is actionable in trademark infringement claims, and also warns appellate courts to not rewrite lower courts' factual analyses, say lawyers at Morgan Lewis.

  • IP Considerations As UK Maintains Exhaustion Regime

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    The U.K. government's decision to keep its existing regime of exhaustion of intellectual property rights means IP owners should review their existing and new European distribution agreements to account for the different regimes in the U.K. and European Union, says Rebecca Anderson-Smith at Mewburn Ellis.

  • EPO Ruling On Claim Interpretation Will Have Broad Impact

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    The European Patent Office Enlarged Board of Appeal’s recent decision, finding that the description and drawings in a patent should always be consulted to interpret claims, will fundamentally change how the EPO interprets patent claims in both examination and opposition proceedings, say lawyers at Finnegan.

  • Challenges Law Firms Face In Recruiting Competitor Teams

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    Since the movement of lawyer teams from a competitor can bring legal considerations and commercial risks into play, both the target and recruiting firms should be familiar with the relevant limited liability partnership deed to protect their business, say lawyers at Fox & Partners.

  • Fashion IP Lessons From UK Design Rights Ruling

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    The Intellectual Property Enterprise Court’s recent ruling in Edwards v. Boohoo.com illustrates the challenges that independent designers face when attempting to enforce unregistered design rights in an era dominated by fast fashion, while also highlighting the utility of the IPEC, say lawyers at Finnegan.

  • Should Patent Disputes Be Filed In The ITC Or UPC?

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    When companies must choose between initiating patent litigation in the U.S. International Trade Commission or the European Union's Unified Patent Court, the ITC may offer a few distinct advantages, but ultimately the decision requires consideration of case-specific factors, say attorneys at White & Case.

  • 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.

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