Can existing IP rights provide protection in relation to deepfake imitations of celebrity voices, catchphrases and appearance? Here we consider the law from a UK perspective.
AI, deepfakes and IP rights
Sharing isn’t always caring: The High Court clarifies honest concurrent use defence
This article was co-authored with Samantha Stone.
On 13 May 2026, the High Court of Australia handed down its unanimous decision in Zip Co Limited & Anor v Firstmac Limited [2026] HCA 16, settling the law on the defence
CJEU referral: UPC tests the limits of jurisdiction
In a landmark move, the UPC’s Court of Appeal has referred key questions to the CJEU on its international jurisdiction and on liability for patent infringement—specifically concerning product compliance authorised representatives. The outcome could redefine the geographical scope of patent
From Tribute to Infringement: Moral (rights) lessons from the LELECHA Lu Xun Case
On World Book Day in 2024 (April 23), LELECHA, a Mainland China milk tea brand, partnered with Yilin Press to launch a “Smoky Oolong” milk tea as a tribute to the prominent Chinese writer Lu Xun. However, the marketing campaign’s
Balance restored: interlocutory injunctions granted for pharma patents
- Interlocutory injunctions remain a viable tool for patentees: Recent decisions confirm that originator pharmaceutical companies can still obtain interlocutory injunctions to restrain the launch of a first generic or biosimilar product, reversing the post-2018 trend against the grant
The Fifth Circuit Takes a Global View on Copyright Termination and Renewal Rights
On January 12, 2026, in Vetter v. Resnik (No. 25-30108), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (“Fifth Circuit”) clarified the geographic scope of copyright recapture (termination of a prior assignment) and renewal rights under the Copyright Acts
Beijing Internet Court Published Model AI-related Cases – Part II
In Part I of this NRF blog series, posted here, we reported on three AI-related cases published in 2025 by the Beijing Internet Court as being ‘model’ (precedent-illustrating) AI cases. In this article, we continue with the remaining three
Beijing Internet Court Published Model AI-related Cases – Part I
With the increasingly widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) in all walks of life, disputes relating to AI are also rapidly emerging. In a press conference last year, the Beijing Internet Court published eight ‘model’ (precedent-illustrating) cases involving
Do We Have Bad Blood? Taylor Swift Successfully Opposes “SWIFT HOME” Trademark Application
When a home goods company tried to register “SWIFT HOME” for its pillows and sheets, Taylor Swift was not about to shake it off. The intense (albeit brief) trademark showdown between Swift and Cathay Home offers a front-row seat to
Orphan works, remote learning and AI: updates regarding the Commonwealth Government’s recent proposed amendments to the Copyright Act
- facilitate the use of copyright materials for which the