Intellectual Property UK

  • June 27, 2025

    Danish Gov't Floats Right To Body And Voice In AI Crackdown

    The Danish government is planning to amend copyright law to ensure everyone has a right to their own body and voice, in a bid to crackdown on the rise of deepfakes created using artificial intelligence.

  • June 27, 2025

    Loft Supplier Denies Copying Rival's 'Loft Leg' Design

    A supplier of loft equipment has denied infringing a rival's designs for a structural support pillar, telling a London court that its own variation gives a different overall impression to consumers.

  • June 27, 2025

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

    This past week in London has seen the British Basketball Federation sued by members of the men's professional basketball league for alleged competition breaches, songwriter Coco Star file an intellectual property claim against Universal Music Publishing, and the Solicitors Regulation Authority file a claim against the Post Office amid ongoing investigations into law firms linked to the Horizon IT Scandal. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.

  • June 27, 2025

    UKIPO Urges Caution Over Broad TMs After SkyKick Ruling

    British intellectual property officials told trademark applicants on Friday to tread carefully when they seek trademarks over a broad range of goods and services following the U.K. Supreme Court's landmark SkyKick ruling on the topic.

  • June 27, 2025

    ZTE Scolded For 'Bad Faith' Tactics In Samsung Patent Clash

    A London judge has rebuked Chinese technology company ZTE after it drew Samsung into "trench warfare" in several jurisdictions in a dispute over whether a court in China or England should fix a cross-license over their essential cellular patents.

  • June 27, 2025

    EU's Last-Resort Patent Licensing Misses The Mark

    The European Union's new compulsory patent licensing regime will probably do little to increase vaccine rollout for the next medical crisis, lawyers say, and will also attract criticism from the pharmaceutical industry.

  • June 27, 2025

    Justice Birss To Become High Court Chancellor

    Justice Colin Birss has been appointed to become the new chancellor of the High Court, putting an appeals court judge who specializes in intellectual property law in one of the most senior judicial roles in England and Wales.

  • June 26, 2025

    L'Oréal Beats Cosmetics Company's 'Oh de Toilette' TM

    L'Oréal has convinced European officials to nix a rival trademark application for "Oh de Toilette" after demonstrating that consumers would think it was connected to its reputable line of Ô-branded fragrances such as "Ô de Lancôme."

  • June 26, 2025

    Microsoft Can Appeal IP Ruling In £270M Antitrust Case

    The Competition Appeal Tribunal on Thursday allowed Microsoft to challenge the tribunal's jurisdiction over copyright law issues that arose out of a £270 million ($370 million) antitrust claim against the technology titan.

  • June 26, 2025

    Stability AI Says Getty Has No Evidence For TM Claim

    Stability AI told a court Thursday that Getty must provide evidence that a U.K. user of its generative artificial intelligence model has generated any images bearing the media giant's watermark to succeed in its surviving trademark claim, as the landmark AI intellectual property trial winds down.

  • June 26, 2025

    Swedish Entrepreneur's 'Nordic Equity' TM Blocked By EU

    A Swedish entrepreneur's trademark "Nordic equity" was rejected by European Union officials who decided it would be interpreted as describing financial services in Nordic regions, following an earlier challenge brought by private equity firm Nordic Capital Cooperation Group Ltd.

  • June 26, 2025

    Harvard, MIT Revive CRISPR Gene Editing Patent At EPO

    A European appeals board has revived a CRISPR gene editing patent belonging to Harvard and MIT, ruling in a decision released Thursday that they can pin the priority date for their patent to a set of earlier U.S. applications.

  • June 26, 2025

    Authors Of 'Critical Editions' Should Get IP Rights, AG Says

    An advocate general for the EU's top court urged judges on Thursday to rule that "critical editions" of works in the public domain can be protected by copyright if the reproduction reflects the "personality … and creative choices" of the author.

  • June 25, 2025

    Vivienne Westwood Foundation Says It Owns Iconic Logo

    A foundation set up by the late fashion pioneer Vivienne Westwood has hit back at claims from the renowned fashion house that it is infringing copyrights tied to Westwood's designs, including her iconic orb logo.

  • June 25, 2025

    Ex-Employee Of MoD Supplier Denies Leaking Classified Info

    A former employee of an engineering company has denied he leaked secret documents linked to the supply of warship components to the Royal Navy, telling a London court that he has not misused any confidential information.

  • June 25, 2025

    French Authorities Put Cork In 'Nero Champagne' TM Bid

    A European Union court ruled against an Italian hotel chain's attempt to trademark the phrase "Nero Champagne" on Wednesday, siding with French authorities in upholding the protected designation of origin for the prestigious sparkling wine.

  • June 25, 2025

    AstraZeneca Fights To Revive Diabetes Drug Patent Protection

    AstraZeneca on Wednesday sought to reinstate supplementary patent protection for its billion-dollar diabetes drug dapagliflozin, telling a London appeals court that a judge was wrong to rule the patent was invalid.

  • June 25, 2025

    Getty Drops Key Copyright Claims From Landmark AI Case

    Getty Images confirmed Wednesday that it will no longer pursue core copyright infringement claims in its landmark case against Stability AI over the training and output of its image generation model as the stock pictures giant shifts its focus in the final days of trial.

  • June 25, 2025

    Uber Blocks German Co.'s 'ÜberGreat' TM

    Uber Technologies Inc. has blocked a German company from registering the trademark "ÜberGreat" after officials were convinced that the mark might take advantage of the ride-hailing giant's reputation.

  • June 25, 2025

    Dolce & Gabbana Blocks Chinese Trader's 'Dolce&Ueulee' TM

    Luxury fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana has persuaded European Union officials to block a trademark application for "Dolce&ueulee's" by a Chinese retailer, finding that consumers might confuse it as an official sub-brand or extension of the Italian designer's label.

  • June 24, 2025

    Big Brands Get A Boost For TM Battles From Top Court

    The U.K.'s top court has once more strengthened trademark protections for established brands to fend off look-a-like brands and fresh competitors, in a landmark judgment affirming that postsale confusion alone is enough to make an infringement case stick.

  • June 24, 2025

    Broker's Costs Cut By £3M Over 'Vague' Trade Secrets Case

    A London court has slashed an investment broker's recoverable costs by half to £3.3 million ($4.5 million) despite previously upholding its claim that a hedge fund and consultant took its trade secrets, ruling that the firm increased costs "at every turn."

  • June 24, 2025

    Sandoz Latest To Seek Revocation Of AstraZeneca Patent

    Sandoz has asked a judge to revoke an AstraZeneca patent for a diabetes treatment, arguing that the drug failed to make any contributions to the field after a court ordered it to hold off the launch of its generic version. 

  • June 24, 2025

    Hyundai Motor Pulls Appeal Over 'Hyundai' TM In EU

    Korean automotive giant Hyundai Motor Co. has ended its bid to expand its technology-related trademark protections for "Hyundai" after being snubbed by a U.S. technology business with the same name.

  • June 24, 2025

    Hugo Boss Beats Bulgarian Casino's 'Boss Of Slotts' TM

    Hugo Boss has successfully fended off a trademark application from a Bulgarian casino software maker for the phrase "Boss of Slotts," after European officials found the gambling-themed brand is too close to the fashion house's well-known "Boss" marks.

Expert Analysis

  • 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.

  • 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.

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