Europe

Marco Stief of Maiwald argues that the District Court of The Hague missed an opportunity to clarify the uncertainty surrounding the term ‘first authorisation’ in Article 3(d) of the SPC Regulation in a recent judgment

The ruling addresses the impact of device mark differences, proof of use, and well-known status arguments, say Hande Hançar Koç, Havva Yıldız, and Zeynep Berfin Ekinci of Gün and Partners

Jakob Pade Frederiksen of Inspicos highlights how a recent ruling relating to the applicable standard for inventive step assessment diverges from the EPO’s problem-solution approach

Spain’s Donut case shows how widespread linguistic use does not necessarily erode trademark rights. Diogo Antunes of Inventa examines how Spanish and Portuguese practice address lexicalisation, reputation, and the boundary between descriptiveness and genericide

Maria Kilimiris of Patrinos & Kilimiris explains how an interim ruling concerning the likelihood of confusion between Fenistil and Knistil highlights how pharmaceutical trademarks and product get-up are assessed under EU and national law

Anne-Raphaëlle Aubry of Bird & Bird explains how Section 1782 and Rule of Procedure 190 offer different pathways for cross-border evidence gathering in European patent disputes, highlighting timing, scope, and strategic considerations for litigants