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Patents
Lawyers at Simmons & Simmons look ahead to a UK Supreme Court hearing in which the court will consider whether English courts can determine FRAND terms when the licence is offered by an intermediary rather than an SEP owner
February 16, 2026
Features list
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In MIP's annual review of European trade mark case law, Ilanah Simon examines how the ECJ has considered registrability issues when faced with new types of trade mark, and argues that recent judgments reveal some fault-lines in the court's jurisprudence -
In the Gillette decision in March, the ECJ attempted to explain when a trade mark can be used by third parties to indicate the intended purpose of a product or service. Dinah Nissen, Hub. Harmeling and Giles Pratt search for clear guidelines in different European jurisdictions
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Effective brand enforcement demands vigilance to avoid genericization, but too hasty action can weaken your case later on. David Morris examines the lessons of a recent dispute in the UK involving the SPAM trade mark
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Combating grey goods means using a wide range of strategies, not just relying on legal protection. Sam Mamudi introduces a survey of six key Latin American markets which addresses the vital questions asked by rights owners
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Choosing the perfect Chinese name for your brand is a key part of cracking the elusive China market. Tan Loke-Khoon provides a guide to getting it right first time
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Decreasing patent quality and the high risk and cost of patent litigation are threatening US innovation. Adam Jaffe and Josh Lerner, authors of Innovation and Its Discontents, present reform proposals which they argue can fix the system
Local Insights
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Bird & Bird
Fame means not all literary figure marks are created equal, says Charlotte Colthurst of Bird & Bird in examining an EUIPO Grand Board of Appeal ruling
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Becerril, Coca & Becerril
Stephania Cardiel of Becerril, Coca & Becerril examines how recent reforms signal a regional move towards faster, more internationally aligned innovation systems
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Inlex
Pravir Palayathan of Inlex explains Mauritius’ customs-led system for protecting trademarks, regulating authorised importers and exporters, and swiftly seizing counterfeit goods
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That.Legal
Gillian Tan of That.Legal explains how accidental font licensing gaps arise in practice, and how Singapore’s compensatory copyright framework affects enforcement outcomes
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Inlex
Igor Charles of Inlex explains how the EUIPO Board of Appeal recognised the Givenchy 4G logo’s reputation in France, linking luxury goods to financial services under Article 8(5) of the EU Trademark Regulation
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Wanhuida Intellectual Property
Yue Guan of Wanhuida Intellectual Property explains how the CNIPA’s rulings on mirogabalin besylate tablets highlight the importance of formulation patent drafting and claim amendments in China’s drug patent landscape
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Tilleke & Gibbins
Thanh Phuong Vu of Tilleke & Gibbins explains how Vietnam’s 2025 Intellectual Property Law amendment introduces protection for partial and intangible designs under Locarno Class 32
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Gün and Partners
A reversal decision by the Turkish Court of Cassation clarifies when patent enforcement may trigger unfair competition liability, report Aysel Korkmaz Yatkın, Selin Sinem Erciyas, and Beste Turan Kurtoğlu of Gün and Partners
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Hanol IP & Law
Min Son of Hanol IP & Law explains how the decision clarifies that multiple-word trademarks can infringe if an element serves as an essential distinctive part
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Saint Island International Patent & Law Offices
Taiwan has stepped up trade secret enforcement through legislative reform and court practice, says Tony Tung-Yang Chang of Saint Island International Patent & Law Offices