Ireland: Intellectual Property

When Ubisoft shut down servers for its 2014 racing game The Crew, players lost access to content they had purchased. This sparked a European Citizens' Initiative gathering 1.3 million signatures demanding publishers keep games playable after commercial support ends. The European Commission's response and its implications for digital content sellers across all sectors reveal critical obligations under existing EU consumer protection law.

Coimisiún na Meán has published guidance on the Article 40(4) Digital Services Act process, which enables Ireland's media regulator to request Very Large Online Platforms and Search Engines to provide data to vetted researchers. This novel regulatory mechanism involves complex evaluations of confidentiality concerns...

On 16 April 2026, the European Commission adopted a revised Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation (the "Revised TTBER") and Guidelines on the application of Article 101 of the Treaty...

HGF operates a comprehensive network of intellectual property offices spanning major cities across the United Kingdom, Europe, and Ireland.

On 16 April 2026, the European Commission adopted a revised Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation (the "Revised TTBER") and Guidelines on the application of Article 101 of the Treaty...

Following the announcement in January that agreement had been reached, the full text of the Framework Agreement on the Supply and Pricing of Medicines ("FASPM")...

The EU Data Act, which became applicable on 12 September 2025, fundamentally reshapes how businesses handle data generated by connected devices and related services. With Ireland's General Scheme published in February 2026 designating ComReg and CCPC as enforcement authorities, companies must now assess their compliance obligations across data sharing frameworks, contractual terms, and user access rights or face significant fines.

The Data Act (Act) is a new European Union (EU) regulation and represents yet another aspect of the EU Digital Reforms package, which regulates the digital world we live and work in.

On 19 November 2025, the European Commission published its draft Digital Omnibus Regulations (EU Regulations 2025/0360 and 2025/0359).

The General Court of the European Union delivered a judgment in Case T-9/25, KCT v EUIPO, on January 14, 2026, which is useful to demonstrate the level of 'distinctiveness' required to overcome objections citing Article 7(1)(b)...

In November 2025, the English High Court delivered judgment in Getty Images (US) Inc & Others v Stability AI Ltd EWHC 2863 (Ch).

In a judgment that will reverberate through courtrooms and boardrooms for years to come, Justice Joanna Smith DBE has delivered the most impactful legal decision...