United Kingdom: Copyright

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Intellectual property law and copyright law thought leadership, articles, podcasts, videos and webinars from expert sources across the legal world. Explore insights covering topics such as licensing and syndication, patent law, trade secrets and trademark law.
Article
Why Ed Sheeran Has Planned His Final Album In His Will
Ed Sheeran has made detailed provisions in his Will for a posthumous album titled 'Eject', granting his wife Cherry Seaborn the authority to select ten songs from his entire catalogue. This article examines the musician's strategic approach to legacy planning and explores why proper estate planning through a professionally drafted Will is essential for protecting your wishes and avoiding intestacy complications.
United Kingdom Family
AG
Anthony Gold Solicitors LLP
Article
AI, Deepfakes And Image Rights: Does English Law Protect Your Face, Voice And Likeness?
Generative AI has created a legal vacuum where synthetic images and deepfakes can be created and shared without consent, yet English law offers no standalone "image right" to protect individuals. With celebrities like Lisa Riley and over 80 performers demanding reform, the question is whether the UK's patchwork of intellectual property, data protection, and common law protections can adequately address this rapidly evolving threat to personal autonomy and reputation.
United Kingdom IP
MR
Mills & Reeve
Article
Highlights And Implications Of The UK Corporate Plan For The UKIPO
The UK Intellectual Property Office Corporate Plan 2026-2027 outlines a transformative agenda centered on digital modernisation, AI integration, and enhanced accessibility for innovators and businesses. As the final year of a multi-year strategy, the plan addresses critical challenges including system-wide digital transformation, AI policy development for copyright, and expanded support for SMEs seeking to leverage IP assets. What opportunities and transitional complexities will practitioners and rights hol
United Kingdom IP
FH
Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP
Article
When The Product Is The Brand: IP Due Diligence Lessons From Crocs’ EU Design Defeat
The EU General Court's decision in Crocs Inc v EUIPO reveals how even globally iconic product designs can be invalidated for lack of individual character, demonstrating that commercial success alone cannot protect intellectual property rights. This case highlights the critical need for product-as-brand businesses to implement staged IP strategies that evolve from design rights at launch to trade mark protection as brand recognition develops.
United Kingdom IP
M
Macfarlanes LLP
Article
Protecting Your Clothing Designs In The EU Just Got Easier – Here’s Why
The European Union has introduced groundbreaking changes to its design registration system, expanding beyond traditional static images to include animated and dynamic representations. These innovations offer fashion designers unprecedented flexibility in protecting clothing designs with intricate details, complex structures, and transformable features that were previously difficult to capture through conventional methods.
United Kingdom IP
MC
Marks & Clerk
Article
Getty Images vs. Stability AI: Copyright Explained
The High Court's ruling in Getty Images v Stability AI has sparked debate over whether AI models trained on copyrighted images constitute infringement under UK law. While Getty dropped its primary infringement claims at trial, the court's findings on secondary infringement—particularly whether an AI model can be an 'infringing copy'—raise fundamental questions about how copyright law applies to generative AI technology. With permission granted to appeal, the legal framework governing AI training
United Kingdom IP
WT
Winston Taylor
Article
CJEU Rules On Hosting Defence For EU Platforms
The Court of Justice of the European Union has issued a landmark ruling that fundamentally reshapes how internet service providers can defend against infringement claims in Europe. The decision establishes strict new parameters around the "hosting defence," particularly concerning platforms that use algorithms to curate, rank, or recommend user-generated content. This judgment introduces significant uncertainty for e-commerce marketplaces, social media platforms, and other intermediaries that rely on automa
European Union Media & IT
PC
Potter Clarkson
Article
Protecting Creativity In Furniture Design
A recent Court of Justice of the European Union ruling in Mio/Konektra has clarified how copyright and design rights protect furniture design, confirming that functional objects can receive copyright protection when they reflect genuine creative expression. The decision establishes that design protection and copyright operate as separate, independent regimes that can coexist, offering designers layered protection strategies for their creative work.
United Kingdom IP
MC
Marks & Clerk
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