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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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Scents, sounds, colours and shapes have become more and more popular ways of representing a product. New procedures and systems for registering marks have made the job of the trade mark owner even more complicated. Ralph Cunningham reports -
As European politicians consider fundamental reforms to patent protection, one of the key questions they have to address is how to make the system more efficient. In particular, some critics believe Europe needs to look to the US model to improve its effectiveness. In a special MIP debate, Koos Rasser argues that the European patent system as it exists today is substantially inferior to that of the US, while Simon Mounteney says that, though not perfect, Europe offers many benefits to applicants
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Rosella L Fernandez, assistant director, and Emma C Francisco, director general, Philippines Bureau of Patents
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Following last year's Baby-Dry decision, trade mark attorneys in Europe have been exploring how to protect novel marks. The new Community Design gives them another tool. Ingrid Hering reports
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Practitioners in the US and Canada face the prospect of exciting changes in the future as courts tackle fundamental issues about the limits of trade mark and copyright protection. James Nurton reports
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Ann Robins, Manager Legal Affairs, EFPIA, Brussels
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