European Union: Intellectual Property

Discover how intellectual property should form part of every succession plan. Learn how Maltese law, trusts, holding companies and governance structures protect brands, patents, copyrights and family wealth.

The Munich Local Division of the Unified Patent Court issued two significant decisions addressing patent exhaustion and FRAND licensing in standard-essential patent disputes. These rulings clarify when upstream licenses to software suppliers exhaust patent rights for downstream products and establish important precedents for SEP enforcement in the telecommunications industry.

Artificial intelligence has revolutionized brand creation, enabling businesses to generate names, logos, and slogans within minutes. However, speed and convenience don't guarantee legal protection, raising critical questions about trademark ownership, registration eligibility, and the protection of AI-generated brands in an era where technology outpaces traditional intellectual property frameworks.

Intellectual property in the defence sector operates under a unique regulatory framework where innovation must be balanced against national security concerns. How can companies effectively protect...

Le 21 avril 2026, IAM a rendu compte d'une décision importante de la Cour d'appel fédérale des États-Unis (Federal Circuit) dans un litige opposant International Medical Devices à plusieurs défendeurs impliqués dans le développement d'un implant médical à visée esthétique.

What is an IP strategy, why do you need one, and how do you create one that will help you achieve your strategic goals? Dr Lisa Clark shares best practices and explains why IP is too important to leave to chance.

Pour autant, la protection d'une innovation ne repose pas uniquement sur la production d'informations. Elle exige également une analyse stratégique, juridique et économique que seule l'expertise humaine permet d'apporter.

The Paris Central Division has ruled that UPC actions can be filed for patent applications nearing grant, potentially invalidating opt-outs filed after proceedings commence. This decision raises critical questions about the timing of opt-out filings and the scope of UPC jurisdiction over pending applications.

In decision T 1186/24, the EPO Board of Appeal reiterated that a European patent claim covering multiple alternatives must enable each of them to be carried out across the entire claimed scope. A single alternative introduced by "or" can thus undermine a patent's validity if it is not sufficiently disclosed, as Charles-Henri Bertaux explains.

Een tas van Hermès, en vooral de Birkin of de Kelly, is niet voor iedereen weggelegd. Naast het feit dat je er een flink bedrag aan kwijt bent, moet je ook het nodige geduld kunnen opbrengen.

The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled on whether political expression and parody can justify the unauthorized use of a reputed trademark, examining the balance between intellectual property rights and freedom of speech. The case arose from a Belgian political party's immigration campaign that adopted IKEA's branding without permission, prompting Inter IKEA to bring infringement proceedings.

Een Birkin Bag van Hermès, de Oran-sandaal of een parfum van Maison Francis Kurkdjian. Voor vrijwel elk iconisch luxeproduct bestaat tegenwoordig een goedkoper alternatief. Op TikTok, Instagram en YouTube worden deze producten massaal gepresenteerd als ‘dupes’: betaalbare alternatieven die dezelfde uitstraling of beleving beloven als het origineel.