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28 April 2026 The sportswear giant comfortably outpaced competitors in terms of footwear patent filings last year as rivals battle it out in a lucrative market.
Latest Features
Mediation is an increasingly attractive option to resolve IP disputes, especially for SMEs, individuals and universities. But it is important that organisations are well prepared and proactive, says Cyrille Rousseau of Dennemeyer & Associates.
Europe’s latest patent fee increases are modest at the EPO but include a rare steep hike in the UK, forcing applicants to reassess filing routes, portfolio value, and long-term cost strategies, say James Bell and Yelena Morozova.
The integration of AI into patent drafting is undeniably transformative, but overreliance on these tools can put meaningful protection for inventions at risk, says Ana Neves of Inventa.
After an overwhelmingly positive Supreme Court ruling for companies working in AI, Rachel Free of CMS outlines the necessary practical steps for patent holders—including enforcement of the ‘black box’ tech, the ruling’s influence on the UPC, and how to manage related applications.
The US’s new guidance on AI inventorship appears to depart from traditional inventorship principles in a way that courts are unlikely to endorse, argues William Morriss of FBT Gibbons.
In force since 1995, the trade agreement’s blanket IP provisions are being challenged by emerging technologies and the different needs of individual countries, says Ana Neves of Inventa.
From public use and foreign sales to the challenges of proving infringement, plant patents present unique legal opportunities—and pitfalls—for the agricultural industry, explain Bree Vculek, Gaby Longsworth, and Robert Millonig of Sterne Kessler.
USPTO director John Squires granted the first inter partes reviews and post-grant reviews of his tenure in December 2025 after a period of issuing only denials. Ehsun Forghany of ArentFox Schiff explains their impact.
More News
22 April 2026 Tech lawyers wait to see if UK courts will cement their role as global arbiter of FRAND rates, in the car brand’s dispute with tech giant InterDigital and licensing firm Avanci.
21 April 2026 The latest partner hire moves from Sidley Austin, bringing high-stakes expertise in patents and trade secrets in industries such as technology, particularly in the energy sector.
20 April 2026 With the start of the first-ever INTA Annual Meeting held in the UK capital just weeks away, in-house IP counsel share their favourite ways to spend downtime in the city.
20 April 2026 As the UK government ramps up plans to lead the quantum revolution, Sarah Speight asks tech expert Andrew Fearnside whether the country’s IP framework is ready.
17 April 2026 The US firm’s new recruits—which marks a "significant expansion" of its Los Angeles and West Coast presence—include two with IP expertise.
16 April 2026 Ranked in WIPR’s Global In-House Elite 2026, Sean Alexander—head of IP at multinational materials group Umicore—tells Sarah Speight what he loves about his job, his industry’s key trends and challenges, and why AI ‘is already proving its worth’.
15 April 2026 The patent litigator, who moves from McDermott Will & Schulte, joins on the eve of the firm’s merger with Taylor Wessing.
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World IP Review provides news and guidance on the challenges facing businesses and legal practitioners active in intellectual property.