United Kingdom: Intellectual Property

Estates containing art collections present unique challenges. Whether administering the estate of an artist or of a collector who has assembled valuable works during their lifetime, executors and beneficiaries are often confronted with a complex combination of legal, tax and practical issues.

Article 50 of the EU AI Act introduces sweeping transparency obligations for AI providers and deployers, requiring disclosure of AI interactions, marking of AI-generated content, and labeling of deepfakes. These rules carry significant commercial and IP implications for businesses using AI to create marketing materials, synthetic influencers, and other valuable assets.

Summer festivals create memorable experiences through music, food, and culture, but behind the excitement lies a complex portfolio of intellectual property assets. From trademark protection of festival names to copyright management of performances and merchandise licensing, these legal frameworks help organizers build lasting brands that generate value long after the final encore.

The UK Supreme Court has decided that the UK Court has jurisdiction to determine a claim challenging the FRAND rates offered by SEP holders as part of pool or platform joint licensing.

University intellectual property commercialisation presents complex challenges around ownership, protection, and value realisation. This analysis examines how UK universities navigate the journey from academic research to market-ready ventures, exploring spinout formation, licensing strategies, and the critical role of patent protection in life sciences innovation.

EU design law has been updated from 1 July 2026, with reforms aimed at making design protection more suited to digital products and modern methods of creation and copying. The changes include dynamic representations like CAD files and animations, expanded protection for GUIs and non-physical items, and strengthened enforcement against counterfeiting and 3D printing.

Solid-state batteries are widely regarded as one of the most promising developments in next-generation energy storage.

Geopolitical conflicts and climate change are threatening global food security by disrupting fertiliser supply chains and driving up costs. European companies are developing innovative solutions ranging from green ammonia production and nitrogen fixation technologies to circular fertilisers derived from waste streams and biological alternatives that enhance nutrient efficiency.

Following the UK’s hottest summer on record, the threat and impact of water scarcity has become increasingly difficult to ignore. It is easy to take for granted the fact that many of us can turn on our taps and have instant access to a seemingly limitless supply of clean and safe drinking water. However, there is a complex infrastructure that makes our access to safe water possible.

Imagine an invention machine that is capable of analysing all published human scientific knowledge and then extrapolating forward. If this invention machine were then to publish its own predictions of, say, future materials, hypothetical drug compounds, or improved cell-based therapies, could this prevent future innovations from being patented?

Chemistry start-ups face critical decisions when building patent portfolios that can determine their commercial success. From timing patent applications before public disclosures...

The Court of Appeal has clarified the meaning of "public domain" in non-disclosure agreements, holding that professionally drafted NDAs use this term in its established legal sense to mean information generally accessible to the public. The decision provides crucial guidance on how courts will interpret confidentiality exceptions and what level of disclosure actually strips information of its protected status.