Local Insights

Kush Coceal of INLEX explains how businesses can avoid distributor-led trademark registrations in Mauritius and outlines the opposition and invalidation remedies available when disputes arise

The expansion of the Patent Prosecution Highway network in Africa raises questions about South Africa’s potential participation, says Thandanani Cwele, with oversight from David Cochrane of Spoor & Fisher South Africa

Duncan Maguire and Paul Ramara of Spoor & Fisher explain how Tanzania’s recently introduced trademark recordation system now accepts ARIPO and foreign registrations, while national filings remain the strongest enforcement tool

Meyke Rietveld and Clemens Molle of Bird & Bird, along with Emma Ren from the association team at Beijing Lawjay Partners, discuss the first copyright cases in China and the EU dealing with training AI models, and newly enacted legislation in this field

Khemphet Phonphakdy and Saithong Rattana of Tilleke & Gibbins summarise the changes under the latest revision as Laos aims to attract foreign investment and align its intellectual property laws with international standards

Wongrat Ratanaprayul of Tilleke & Gibbins highlights the complex processes required to secure AI patents across Southeast Asia

Ana Rita Paínho and Ana Filipa Tavares of Bird & Bird explore how overlapping intellectual property, database, trade secret, and AI rules require Portuguese businesses to adopt more integrated legal strategies

Igor Charles and Théo Coquis of INLEX explain a courtroom battle over a weaponised ‘Obelix’ mark and how the decision provides guidance on the evidence required to establish a trademark’s reputation

Vítor Palmela Fidalgo of Inventa shares initial takeaways on trademark law, political parody, and freedom of expression after the CJEU’s ruling

Senior legal practitioners of Licks Attorneys explain how antibody characterisation during prosecution can shape patent scope, validity, and enforcement in Brazil, with lessons from the US Amgen v Sanofi decision

Eduardo Hallak, Juliana Neves, and Sarah Lucas of Licks Attorneys examine Brazil's growing debate over patent term adjustment and the legislative proposals seeking to address examination delays

Eduardo Hallak, Rafaella Oliveira, and Laís Souza of Licks Attorneys explain how the provision operates in practice, highlighting evidential hurdles and best practices for patent applicants

Erick Sevilla Carrera of Becerril, Coca & Becerril explains how Mexico’s 2026 regulations clarify the evidence required to prove acquired distinctiveness and secure trademark protection for non-distinctive signs

Octavio Espejo of Becerril, Coca & Becerril explains how sweeping patent reforms reshape filing strategies, prosecution, and divisional application practice

Soledad Betanzos-Lara of Becerril, Coca & Becerril explains how Mexico’s pharmaceutical and biotech patentability criteria are being reshaped by evolving examination practice

Raluca Vasilescu of Cabinet M Oproiu considers how AI and pricing pressures could affect patent attorneys’ work in the near future

Nick Aries of Bird & Bird LLP examines how agentic AI could reshape brand discovery, trademark enforcement, and comparative advertising, and outlines key risks for brand owners

Tariq Shajahan and Willem Niesing of NLO analyse dredging-related patent filings in key jurisdictions and highlight contrasting Western and Asian approaches to innovation, from component-level engineering to system-wide methodologies and AI-driven optimisation