United Kingdom: Intellectual Property

The women's health technology sector has evolved from simple digital diaries into sophisticated tracking systems that capture menstrual cycles, fertility patterns, and menopause symptoms at unprecedented scale. As these innovations transition from niche tools to established digital health fixtures, securing comprehensive intellectual property protection becomes essential for transforming technological breakthroughs into defensible commercial assets.

The digital age has made films, TV shows, and music instantly accessible online, but much of this content is shared illegally without copyright owners' consent. Criminal prosecutions for online piracy can result in substantial fines and even imprisonment, though enforcement typically targets distributors rather than individual consumers.

In the latest episode of Carpmaels in Conversation, Lara Elder and Harry Shaw discuss one of the most closely watched cases in intellectual property law: Getty Images v Stability AI. Using the case as a starting point, they examine a central question for modern copyright law: whether AI models trained on datasets that include copyright works should give rise to liability for infringement.

Before expanding, taking investment, franchising or licensing a business, it is essential to confirm that the brand is clear to use, properly owned and capable of protection in priority markets.

The COVID-19 pandemic thrust mRNA technology into the global spotlight, transforming decades of foundational research into commercially valuable vaccines almost overnight. This rapid commercialization, combined with enormous revenues and a complex web of overlapping patents, has triggered an unprecedented wave of intellectual property disputes that is reshaping how value is allocated across the biotechnology industry and determining who controls access to next-generation RNA-based medicines.

Europe's patent offices have implemented significant fee increases for 2026, with the EPO raising costs by approximately 5% and the UKIPO imposing steeper hikes averaging 25%. These changes are forcing patent applicants to fundamentally reassess their filing strategies, portfolio management approaches, and long-term cost optimization tactics across European jurisdictions.

The women's health technology sector has evolved from simple digital diaries into sophisticated tracking systems that capture menstrual cycles, fertility patterns, and menopause symptoms at unprecedented scale. As these innovations transition from niche tools to established digital health fixtures, securing comprehensive intellectual property protection becomes essential for transforming technological breakthroughs into defensible commercial assets.

The Dusseldorf Local Division (LD) of the UPC has found the managing director (MD) of an infringing company liable for the infringement as an "accomplice" co-infringer due to his level of involvement...

How can intellectual property rights protect innovations designed specifically for women and underrepresented groups in product safety? This article explores the intersection of inclusive design and IP strategy, examining patents, design rights, and trade marks as tools for safeguarding innovations that address long-overlooked safety gaps in consumer products.

Artificial intelligence offers tremendous potential for innovation and efficiency in intellectual property work, but using AI tools carelessly can inadvertently destroy patent rights, breach confidentiality, and compromise legal privilege.

When key employees with access to proprietary technology and trade secrets depart for competitors, employers face significant risks of confidential information misappropriation. The recent case of Vertical Aerospace Group Ltd v Ngoma demonstrates how imaging orders can preserve critical evidence from devices and cloud accounts, while also revealing the careful balance courts strike between protecting legitimate business interests and respecting employee rights during the disclosure process.

Fashion businesses often overlook their most valuable intellectual property assets - the confidential processes, manufacturing techniques, and proprietary knowledge that competitors cannot easily replicate.