Intellectual Property UK

  • June 03, 2026

    UPC Appeals Court Stakes Authority Over UK Patent Claims

    Appellate judges at the Unified Patent Court have resolutely confirmed that the unitary forum has the jurisdiction to hear infringement claims connected with the U.K. parts of European patents.

  • June 03, 2026

    Language Platform Babbel Loses Protection For Retired TM

    Language learning app Babbel has lost the right to a retired trademark used in connection with electronic teaching and software services, after European officials found the company had not provided evidence it had used its name commercially in that space in the last five years.

  • June 02, 2026

    Airbnb Beats Eco-Friendly Platform's TM For Short Stays

    Airbnb has convinced European officials that a rival should not be allowed to use "Ecobnb" to market temporary accommodation, after showing that the sustainable tourism platform hadn't used its sign for years for several registered services.

  • June 02, 2026

    UPC Officially Debuts Arbitration Center In Slovenia

    The Unified Patent Court said Tuesday that it has formally opened its long-awaited patent mediation and arbitration center, following its inauguration in Slovenia.

  • June 02, 2026

    Chanel Blocks Cosmetics Brand's Bid For 'Incoco' TM

    Chanel has successfully blocked a U.S. cosmetics brand from using the trademark "Incoco" for makeup and perfume products after demonstrating that consumers would associate the word with its founder Coco Chanel.

  • June 09, 2026

    Kirkland Hires Three New Square Barrister As IP Partner

    Kirkland & Ellis LLP has recruited an intellectual property barrister from Three New Square as a partner in its London office, adding experience in high-stakes life sciences litigation that involves companies such as Abbott and Teva.

  • June 02, 2026

    Birkenstock Can't Stop HK Biz Getting 'Madrix' TM In EU

    Birkenstock has failed to block a "Madrix" trademark application from a company based in Hong Kong after European Union officials ruled that there is no risk of confusion with the German shoemaker's "Madrid" line of sandals.

  • June 02, 2026

    High Court Gets Overhaul With New Business Division

    Lady Chief Justice Sue Carr unveiled plans on Tuesday to overhaul the High Court of England and Wales by creating a new business and property division that she said will provide "greater clarity for users."

  • June 01, 2026

    Bugatti Puts Brakes On EV Maker To Nix Rival's 'Veron' TM

    European officials have upheld Bugatti's challenge to a rival's trademark for "Veron," ruling that shoppers might confuse it with the luxury carmaker's "Veyron" brand.

  • June 01, 2026

    Visa Blocks 'Lovisa' Cosmetics TM Application In EU

    Visa has persuaded European Union officials to deny a Chinese individual's "Lovisa" trademark application, proving that shoppers could mistakenly think the logo is an extension of its "Visa" branding.

  • June 01, 2026

    Viral Labubu Toy Loses TM Protection To Turkish 'Bubu' Rival

    An Italian retailer has lost a trademark displaying the viral Labubu plush toy shown off by celebrities like Rihanna and David Beckham, after a Turkish stationery shop convinced European officials that shoppers were too accustomed to its earlier "Bubu" mark despite the Labubu toy's global craze. 

  • June 01, 2026

    Moldova Becomes 40th State To Join EU Patent Convention

    European officials said Monday that Moldova has officially become the 40th country to sign onto the European Patent Organization, giving businesses and inventors in the country broader access to patent protection after years of co-operation with the bloc.

  • June 01, 2026

    Budweiser Budvar Downs Aldi's 'Buval' Beer TM Hopes

    Czech brewer Budweiser Budvar has convinced the European Union to block Aldi's "Buval" trademark application, proving that drinkers could confuse the two brands in noisy bars and nightclubs.

  • June 01, 2026

    Honeywell Keeps Patent For Eco-Friendly Chemical Process

    Honeywell has persuaded a European appeals panel to uphold an amended version of its patent for a way of producing an environmentally friendly refrigerant chemical, defeating a Mexican rival's quest to void the patent entirely.

  • May 29, 2026

    Hitachi Can't Revive Bid To Patent Voltage-Surge Protector

    European appellate officials have rejected a Hitachi patent for a component that manages surge voltages in power transmission systems, ruling that there wasn't enough information allowing skilled engineers to make the two claimed versions. 

  • May 29, 2026

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

    The past week in London has seen the billionaire who donated £5 million ($6.7 million) to Nigel Farage sue Ben Habib, the leader of far-right party Advance UK, for defamation; Mashreqbank bring claims against three subsidiaries of dissolved private equity giant Abraaj Group for commercial fraud; and the property and investment vehicle of the State of Kuwait be targeted by four real estate figures who filed a miscellaneous claim. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.

  • May 29, 2026

    Squire Patton's New EU IP Head Sets Sights On UPC And AI

    After some false starts, Squire Patton Boggs is handling its first dispute at the Unified Patent Court, and new European IP and technology chief Carlton Daniel could not be happier to see the firm through its new foray into European patent litigation.

  • May 29, 2026

    Nokia Drops UPC Claim Against Lotus Following Settlement

    Nokia has withdrawn its infringement claim against Lotus and other brands owned by Geely in a European court a week after the Finnish firm said it had settled all litigation with the Chinese electric automaker over patents covering smart-car technology.

  • May 29, 2026

    Ferrero Cracks Confectioner's Bid For 'Vlinder' TM

    Ferrero has persuaded European officials to block a Saudi Arabian confectioner from registering the trademark "Vlinder: Chocolate" after demonstrating that consumers would likely believe it was connected to Ferrero's established "Kinder" chocolate range.

  • May 28, 2026

    HSBC Defeats Most Claims In First Citizens' Poaching Suit

    A California federal judge has dismissed the bulk of First Citizens Bank & Trust Co.'s suit against HSBC alleging the latter induced a mass resignation and misappropriated trade secrets, saying the court still didn't have any jurisdiction over some defendants and that an amended complaint had not cured issues with a previously dismissed complaint.

  • May 28, 2026

    Roche Revives Patent For Heart Risk Monitor At EPO

    Roche has won a second chance at defending its patent for predicting heart failure, after an appellate board found that an earlier cardiac-screening study didn't undermine its intellectual property because it used other testing methods to reach different results. 

  • May 28, 2026

    Brown University Can't Patent Body Shape Guessing Tech

    European appellate officials have rejected a Brown University patent covering technology that guesses a person's body shape to help them shop online or achieve their fitness goals, ruling that it was obvious to provide real height and weight constraints for better accuracy. 

  • May 28, 2026

    Drugmaker Disputes Challenge To Pet Vomiting Treatment

    A Dechra unit has pushed back against rival drugmaker Krka's attempt to revoke its injectable formula for treating vomiting in cats and dogs, insisting the patent has remained valid from the outset. 

  • May 28, 2026

    Stanford Gives Up Cancer Treatment Patent In Europe

    Stanford University has relinquished its European patent for a type of cancer treatment following a challenge from Pfizer and Danish biotech company Genmab, an appeals panel found in a ruling released Thursday.

  • May 28, 2026

    Unauthorized Red Bull Sales Did Little Harm, Wholesaler Says

    A wholesaler has partially admitted that it infringed Red Bull's trademark over its name by selling the energy drinks without authorization abroad, but told a London judge that the scale of the infringement was being exaggerated and the damages awarded should be minimal. 

Expert Analysis

  • How PTAB Is Applying New Patent Eligibility Guidance

    Author Photo

    Since the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office released its revised patent eligibility guidance in January, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board has been reversing Section 101 rejections at a higher rate, say Nick Anderson and Braden Katterheinrich of Faegre Baker Daniels.

  • Keys To Successful AI Patents In The US And Europe

    Author Photo

    Unsurprisingly, the World Intellectual Property Organization recently reported that patent filings for artificial intelligence inventions are increasing rapidly. Stakeholders should be mindful of maintaining quality during this filing surge, says Drew Schulte of Haley Guiliano LLP.

  • 9 Ways To Prepare Your IP Rights For Brexit

    Author Photo

    Those with a European intellectual property portfolio should be considering how Brexit — scheduled for March 29 — will affect EU trademarks and registered community designs, says Paula Jill Krasny of Levenfeld Pearlstein LLC.

  • 'Biosimilar V. Biosimilar' Patent Case May Be First Of Many

    Author Photo

    ​While the idea of patent disputes between makers of follow-on drugs is nothing new​, the complaint recently filed by Coherus against Amgen in Delaware federal court is unique in that it pits one biosimilar developer against another, say attorneys with Goodwin Procter LLP.

  • UK Patent Law: Hot Topics Of 2018 And What's Ahead

    Author Photo

    English courts have been active in the past year, grappling with patent topics like plausibility and equivalents, and 2019 promises to be another exciting year as English patent lawyers await developments on obviousness, insufficiency and employee inventor compensation, says Jin Ooi of Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

  • Coordinating Patent Strategies Across PTAB And EPO

    Author Photo

    The positions, arguments and prior art raised in U.S. post-grant proceedings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board may influence European Patent Office oppositions involving counterpart cases. Understanding the procedural similarities and differences between the two jurisdictions is key, says Drew Schulte of Haley Guiliano LLP.

  • New EU Patent Guidelines May Affect Companies' AI Strategy

    Author Photo

    As compared to the European Patent Office’s guidelines for artificial intelligence and machine learning — which take effect on Thursday — the U.S. eligibility framework may prove to be more favorable to innovators, say Jennifer Maisel and Eric Blatt of Rothwell Figg Ernst & Manbeck PC​​​​​​​.

  • Intellectual Property Caught In US-China Trade Crossfire

    Author Photo

    Earlier this year, President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Chinese products as a response to China’s trade practices concerning technology transfer, intellectual property and innovation. The U.S.-Chinese trade war highlights the need to approach investments in China differently, taking a broad view of intellectual assets and looking beyond basic legal protection, says Holly White, a consultant at Rouse & Co.

  • Patent Eligibility Assessments: US Approach Vs. UK Approach

    Author Photo

    Techniques used to address questions of obviousness in the U.K. may prove useful to practitioners addressing questions of patent eligibility in the U.S., say Christopher Carroll and Charles Larsen of White & Case LLP.

  • Surveying The CRISPR Patent War

    Author Photo

    Following this week’s oral argument at the Federal Circuit in University of California v. Broad Institute, there has been a surge of interest in the long-running CRISPR patent dispute. There are battles raging on multiple fronts, particularly in Europe, with several more on deck in the U.S., and maybe even in China, says Michael Stramiello of Paul Hastings LLP.

  • UK Patent Ruling Sharpens Contrast With US Practice

    Author Photo

    The U.K. Court of Appeal's decision last month in Regeneron v. Kymab is significant because it aligns the U.K.’s approach to the assessment of insufficiency with that of the European Patent Office. It also highlights, for U.S. companies, the stricter standard to which patent specifications are subject in Europe, say Edward Kelly and Regina Sam Penti of Ropes & Gray LLP.

  • IP Considerations For UK Open Banking App Developers

    Author Photo

    Since January of this year, consumer-facing banks in the U.K. have been required to make customers' banking data available to authorized third parties in a standardized format. As competition between open banking app developers increases, intellectual property rights will become a key legal tool, say Rajvinder Jagdev and Peter Damerell of Powell Gilbert LLP.

  • The Case For Early Mediation Or Arbitration In IP Disputes

    Author Photo

    Alternative dispute resolution is one of the best ways to resolve disputes involving patents, copyright, trademark, trade secrets and other intellectual property issues. While not every situation lends itself to ADR, it is more accessible than many parties assume, says Jerry Cohen of Burns & Levinson LLP.

  • International Arbitration In 2018: A Year Of Rule Revisions

    Author Photo

    Though still in its relative infancy, 2018 is shaping up to be a year of arbitral institution rule updates. Neil Newing and Ryan Cable of Signature Litigation LLP explore some of the more innovative and trending rule changes expected or predicted this year.

  • A Look At Chemical Supplemental Examination Requests

    Author Photo

    If used strategically, supplemental examination at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office can provide a powerful tool for chemical patent owners to add to their armamentarium of options for Orange Book-listed patents when conducting a due diligence analysis of their patent estate prior to Orange Book listing, say attorneys with Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner LLP.

Want to publish in Law360?


Submit an idea

Have a news tip?


Contact us here
Can't find the article you're looking for? Click here to search the Intellectual Property UK archive.