Intellectual Property Law and Copyright Laws

When a licensor becomes insolvent, licensees face the risk of losing business-critical IP rights as insolvency administrators can elect to terminate ongoing license agreements. This article examines practical protective measures including sublicenses, escrow arrangements, and security interests that can help safeguard licensee interests, while acknowledging their limitations and the strategic considerations necessary when structuring IP license agreements.

The European Patent Office's Enlarged Board of Appeal has issued a landmark decision in G 1/25 "Hydroponics," addressing a fundamental question that has divided practitioners for years: when patent claims are amended during examination, must the description be adapted to match? The ruling establishes that inconsistencies between claims and descriptions only require correction when they result in non-compliance with the European Patent Convention, not merely for achieving formal consistency.

Op 4 maart 2026 publiceerde de Europese Commissie haar wetgevingsvoorstel voor de Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), het antwoord van de EU op de toenemende concurrentie in het mondiale industriële landschap.

Explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping intellectual property law through recent European court decisions and regulatory developments. From AI-generated music copyright disputes to trade secret protection in the age of mandatory data sharing, discover the evolving legal landscape where technology meets creative rights.

Germany's highest civil court has ruled that an unlicensed sample from Kraftwerk's 1977 track "Metall auf Metall" used in a hip hop song qualifies as lawful pastiche under EU copyright law. This landmark decision, concluding a nearly 30-year legal dispute, establishes new parameters for when sampling can constitute creative engagement rather than mere copying, though it stops short of providing blanket protection for all unauthorized samples.

À l'occasion de sa campagne estivale 2026, l'Union des fabricants (Unifab) a multiplié les actions de prévention auprès du grand public afin de mieux faire connaître les risques associés à l'achat de produits contrefaisants. Déployée dans plusieurs stations touristiques françaises, cette opération avait pour objectif d'aider les consommateurs à identifier les indices permettant de distinguer un produit authentique d'une copie illicite

France's Supreme Court has ruled that luxury trademarks incorporating dates suggesting centuries-old heritage can be invalidated when they mislead consumers about product quality and craftsmanship. The decision, following a CJEU preliminary ruling, addresses whether purchasing a historic trademark confers the original proprietor's history and know-how without genuine continuity of operations.

The Court of Justice of the European Union has issued a landmark ruling on whether political parties can use reputable trademarks for parody or campaigning purposes under EU trademark law. The case examines a Belgian political party's IKEA-themed immigration campaign and establishes new criteria for balancing trademark rights against freedom of expression. National courts must now weigh multiple factors including intent, contribution to public debate, and potential brand damage when assessing such uses.

For a growing games company, an IPO may seem a long way off. Management is focused on developing new titles, expanding into international markets, growing its player base and investing in talent and technology.

Explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping intellectual property law through recent European court decisions and regulatory developments. From AI-generated music copyright disputes to trade secret protection in the age of mandatory data sharing, discover the evolving legal landscape where technology meets creative rights.

Op 4 maart 2026 publiceerde de Europese Commissie haar wetgevingsvoorstel voor de Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), het antwoord van de EU op de toenemende concurrentie in het mondiale industriële landschap.

On 4 March 2026, the European Commission published its legislative proposal for the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA), the EU’s response to an increasingly competitive global industrial landscape.