lead position
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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Patent applications in biotechnology have grown dramatically in the past decade, throwing up many challenges and posing new problems for patent offices. Ingrid Hering speaks to examiners at the EPO and USPTO to find out how they are dealing with these issues
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A wealth of IP rights exists in innovations from the developing world, particularly in biodiversity inventions. The battle has always been to secure access to those rights. India’s Honey Bee Network is one organization fighting for a fairer system. Ralph Cunningham reports -
A cigarette company has proved use to fight off an attempt to register a mark similar to one of its products. This is in spite of failing with its own application. Owners of foreign trade marks in Singapore should gain confidence from the result, writes Farah Namazie
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Eight months after Nominet launched a dispute procedure for .uk domains, over 80% of the decisions have resulted in the domain name being transferred. Sarah Wright examines some of the more significant decisions
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MIP hosted a reception at the Grand Hyatt in Washington DC on May 21 during the INTA Conference. Over 250 guests attended the party, including award winners from the leading firms in the World IP Survey and Emerging Markets Survey. Pictures of some of the award winners, and MIP staff, are shown.
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Programme formats can be a goldmine but to what extent can they attract IP rights? Lyndsay Gough looks at some of the issues facing those seeking to exploit and protect them
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