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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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Has trade mark protection gone too far? Are brand owners too aggressive in pursuing broad-based claims against non-competitors? MIP asked two distinguished analysts to debate the role of trade marks in society. Tom Moore, who has reservations about the use of trade mark rights, opens the correspondence, and Bruce Lehman responds -
The so-called cut-off effect is an important feature of EPO opposition proceedings. Reinhardt Schuster and Bernd Rupprecht explain what the cut-off effect is, and how patentees and opponents can use it to their advantage
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In a unique survey, MIP set out to discover what brand owners really think about key issues such as which countries offer the best and worst protection, how to enforce rights and what qualities to look for in outside counsel. The results are revealed in a special series of reports. By James Nurton, Sam Mamudi and Emma Barraclough
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Jeremy Phillips reviews the most important and interesting cases from courts in the EU member states during the past year, and examines what lessons trade mark owners can learn from them
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In a string of important decisions, the ECJ has provided rights owners with a comprehensive guide to what constitutes trade mark infringement in Europe. Ilanah Simon examines the key cases from the past year
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Local Insights
Sponsored by
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
Sponsored by
Becerril, Coca & Becerril
Stephania Cardiel of Becerril, Coca & Becerril examines how recent reforms signal a regional move towards faster, more internationally aligned innovation systems
Sponsored by
Inlex
Pravir Palayathan of Inlex explains Mauritius’ customs-led system for protecting trademarks, regulating authorised importers and exporters, and swiftly seizing counterfeit goods
Sponsored by
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
Sponsored by
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
Sponsored by
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
Sponsored by
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
Sponsored by
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
Sponsored by
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
Sponsored by
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