In-house IP roundup: UPC litigation uncertainty to stall cases; software development speed diminishes patent office value

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In-house IP roundup: UPC litigation uncertainty to stall cases; software development speed diminishes patent office value

Money

Managing IP rounds up the latest news and analysis from patent-focused businesses on the UPC, blockchain, software FTO and Chinese litigation

Drugs

UPC: businesses hesitant to litigate in untested court

Counsel from pharmaceutical, agro-chemical and telecoms companies say that a lack of established rulings and a new structure will make them hesitant to use a newly-emerged Unified Patent Court, should it come into being. Read More... 

Software development speed makes patent offices and FTO less valuable

Tech companies say freedom-to-operate searches are becoming more difficult because patent registers are less reflective of the landscape and subject matter is more difficult to find. Read more... 

Blockchain prosecution easier at USPTO but more reliable at EPO

Stakeholders in the distributed ledger market say Section 101 creates eligibility uncertainty for filing at the USPTO, but the EPO sets a higher standard for granting software-related patents. Read more... 

China court improvements increase foreign litigators’ confidence

While some companies continue to be wary of litigation in China, recent examples of foreign patent wins are convincing many that they can get sound and efficient judgments from the country’s courts. Read more... 





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More from across our site

Lawyers at Carpmaels & Ransford explain how the healthcare sector has not simply participated in the UPC’s early years, but actively shaped it
The firm has hired former in-house counsel Quintin Cassady to lead the launch of the new office
The combined firm has strong IP credentials across the US, Middle East, UK and Europe, despite Taylor Wessing’s German and French practices not joining
Priya Nagpal, who this month became the firm’s eighth IP partner, says its cross-practice expertise in areas closely linked to IP was a key draw
Harm van der Heijden is to join Ankar as head of patent innovation after 17 years in private practice
Alabama attorney Miya Aladebumoye has launched a new firm built on ‘big law’ experience and a personal touch approach
A UKIPO campaign aimed at combating fakes in the pre-loved fashion market and registration of the first Portuguese craft and industrial geographical indication were also among the top talking points
Chris Adams, Managing IP’s research lead, joins us to explain what practitioners need to know ahead of our first rankings release of 2026
Another IP litigator joins Winston & Strawn in Dallas as firm seeks to keep pace with ‘rapid’ growth of Texas market
Anthony O'Malley will replace Andrew Blattman at IPH, which owns several large IP firms across Australia, Asia and Canada
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