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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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Standard setting organizations are in a state of flux in the US, thanks to recent setbacks to the FTC's efforts to police members, as well as a new statute. Stafford Matthews, Robert S Harrell, V Walter Bratic and Shirley Webster review the latest developments
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Registration remains the best form of trade mark protection in the UK. But two recent English cases reveal the continuing importance of unregistered rights, as Graeme Fearon explains -
A court victory by peer-to-peer networks against copyright holders may lead to the passage of an Act that would stunt technological progress. Michael R Graham argues against a hasty extension to US copyright law
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A recent US ruling has saved accused infringers from the fear that by not having a legal opinion, courts would automatically infer that such an opinion would have contained unfavourable advice. But, says Scott M Alter, that does not mean that such opinions may no longer be crucial
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David Barron and Alexandra Brodie examine how patent offices and the courts in Europe treat business method patents. They also compare European and US filing activity and ask whether European financial services companies are lagging behind their US counterparts
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Hong Kong has a reputation for being tough on IP infringements. But as a neighbour to one of the world's biggest centres of counterfeiting and a regional shipping hub, it presents its own risks to IP owners. Nicholas Redfearn explains how to enlist support from Hong Kong's criminal law enforcers
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