Publications, press articles, rankings, awards
New Referral to the Enlarged Board of Appeals G1/26
1. In the decision G1/24, the Enlarged Board of appeals held that the claims are the starting point and the basis for assessing patentability of an invention under Articles 52 to 57 EPC. The description and drawings shall always be consulted to interpret the claims for this assessment and not only if the claim is unclear or ambiguous.
Chinese Customs: A Strategic Barrier Against Counterfeiting
According to studies conducted by the EUIPO and the OECD, China remains the world’s leading source of counterfeit goods. It accounts for approximately 45% of counterfeit goods seizures worldwide and is also the principal country of origin of counterfeit products intercepted at the borders of the European Union.
Data protection – April-June 2026 News
This newsletter presents a selection of news from April to June 2026 in the field of data protection.
Phase 2 of Design Package – Entry into force on July 1, 2026
New technical requirements for static, dynamic, and animated representations are introduced, along with new file formats, to improve the understanding of the characteristics of European Union designs.
The UPC Paves the Way for Stronger Protection of Digital Innovations: A Data Stream May Constitute a “Product”
In a decision dated 16 June 2026 (UPC_CFI_86/2025), the Mannheim Local Division of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) held that an intangible data stream, such as an encoded video stream (a “bitstream”), may qualify as a “product” within the meaning of Articles 25(a) and 25(c) of the UPC Agreement.
Trademark filed to extend an expired patent: bad faith sanctioned
Decision: Cass. com., 7 january. 2026, n° 21-23.458
The French Supreme Court confirms that a trade mark may be invalidated for bad faith where it is filed with the aim of unduly extending the technical protection granted by an expired patent.