Blog
Analysis and commentary on intellectual property developments relevant to cross-border business across Europe, Latin America and Africa. We publish on the matters that affect how intangible assets are protected, exploited and defended — from EUIPO and WIPO practice to the implementation of the EU AI Act and the evolution of intellectual property regimes across Latin American and African jurisdictions.
Managing a multi-country copyright portfolio from one point of contact
Copyright needs no registration, but a multi-country portfolio still needs an inventory, proof of ownership per country, clean assignments and monitoring. How to run it from…
Logos, characters and packaging: copyright and trademark at the same time
A logo or mascot can be protected by copyright and as a trademark at once. How the two layers differ, who owns a commissioned design and…
Copyright assignment applicable law: the CJEU in Steizer applies Rome I
The CJEU ruled on 24 September 2026 that the formal validity of a copyright assignment follows Rome I, not the law of the country of protection.…
Copyright protection in Africa: OAPI, South Africa and Nigeria compared
How copyright works in the 17 OAPI states, South Africa and Nigeria: ownership, term, written assignments, fair use and collective licensing.
Proof of copyright ownership without registration: what holds up in court
Registry, notary or time stamp? What each proves about authorship in Spain and the EU, how Mexico and Brazil compare, and how to combine them across…
Copyright due diligence for cross-border deals: code, open source, content
How to check software ownership, open source compliance and content licences before an M&A deal or investment between the EU and Latin America, with a checklist.
Pelham’s sample is pastiche: Germany’s top court closes Metall auf Metall
The BGH held on 3 September 2026 that Pelham's Kraftwerk sample is a lawful pastiche. What the CJEU test requires and where a licence is still…
Translating content for new markets: the copyright permissions you need
Translating is transforming: why localising content between Europe and Latin America needs a licence from the original owner and an assignment from the translator.
Are social media posts protected by copyright? CJEU rules in Gândul Media
The CJEU ruled on 3 September 2026 that an original social media post is a protected work, and set limits on the news reporting exception. What…
Entering the EU market? A copyright checklist for Latin American companies
Your works are protected in the EU from creation, but can you prove ownership? A copyright checklist for Latin American companies entering Europe through Spain.
Article 17 of the DSM Directive explained: platform liability for uploads
How Article 17 of the DSM Directive makes content-sharing platforms liable for user uploads, what best efforts requires and how rightholders can license or remove content.
Collective management in Spain: when to pay and when to license directly
Which payments to Spanish collective management organisations are mandatory, which rights you can license directly and what to do if you dispute a tariff.
