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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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Multiplayer online games are one of the biggest growth areas on the internet. J Michael Monahan says that, while these games pose new challenges for IP owners, infringement should be treated as seriously as in the real world -
Software resellers aim to match companies with more licenses than they need with businesses that are in the market to buy. But the trade in second-hand licences is often regarded as a grey market, says Flemming Moos. Now German courts have handed down important rulings on the compatibility of software licence resale with copyright law
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As IP owners begin to pay for their first batch of renewals for 10-year old Community trade marks, many are finding their budgets under increasing pressure. Emma Barraclough talked to in-house counsel to get their top 10 tips for keeping IP portfolios in good shape and avoiding spiralling costs
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IBM does it, so do Sun and Google. Even Microsoft is making positive noises about open source. Whether as a software developer or a software user, you need to understand open source and why it has the potential to change the way you handle IP. James Nurton reports
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Spain has developed its own rules for resolving disputes over .es domain names. Jonathan Hinkson explains how IP owners can make the most of the procedures
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What can you expect if you want to challenge a granted patent in Russia? Vladimir M Rybakov and Yana Lipatova examine the rules for Russian and Eurasian patents, analyze some decisions of the Russian Patent Disputes Chamber and explain how invalidation works in practice
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