For many years, businesses questioned the merits of filing intellectual property (IP) rights in China because of concerns of widespread counterfeiting and limited enforcement and practical protections. While those historic concerns were not entirely unfounded, today, the greater risk for
intellectual property
The UPC keeps pushing the boundaries of European patent litigation
In Fujifilm v. Kodak, the Court of Appeal confirmed that a single UPC action may, in principle, extend beyond the UPC territory and encompass infringement claims concerning patent rights in jurisdictions such as the UK. While the appeal ultimately…
AI, deepfakes and IP rights
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.
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…
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…
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…
Bye bye intrinsic test? Substantial similarity in Sedlik v. Von Drachenberg

On January 2, 2026, a Ninth Circuit panel affirmed the jury verdict in Sedlik v. Von Drachenberg, — F. 4th. —–, 2026 WL 17166 (9th Cir. Jan. 2, 2026), which found that defendant celebrity tattoo artist Katherine Von Drachenberg…
Keeping Hong Kong’s registered design system up to date with the modern world

Never Give Up: How SIDECAR SLIDER BAR Proves Persistence Pays Off in Trademark Prosecution
Bucking the trend of recent Section(d) refusal affirmances, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“TTAB”) delivered a surprising victory to the applicant in In re Restaurant Concept Management, LLC,[1] finding no likelihood of confusion between SIDECAR SLIDER BAR…
Intellectual property rights on insolvency: risks and remedies for a licensee
What are the principal areas of risk for a licensee of IP rights when the licensor enters into an insolvency process? What are the steps that a licensee may take to protect itself in potential future insolvency proceedings of its…






