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.
IP protection in Brazil: INPI timelines and fast-track options for EU firms
INPI took 18.3 months for unopposed trade marks and 4.3 years for patents in 2025. How European companies can plan Brazil and use the priority routes…
Uruguay trademark registration: what the DNPI’s new AI assistant changes
Uruguay's DNPI has built an AI assistant for formal trademark examination. Why clean national filings matter, with the deadlines foreign applicants must meet.
Kenya’s IP Bill 2026: one authority (KIPA) for trademarks and counterfeiting
Kenya's IP Bill 2026 would merge KIPI, KECOBO and the Anti-Counterfeit Authority into one authority, KIPA. The Trade Marks Act stays; who runs it and how…
Madrid Union Assembly 2026: new rules, Portuguese and the dependency debate
The Madrid Union Assembly adopted rule changes in force on 1 November 2026 and kept open the Portuguese language and dependency debates. What it means for…
Can you protect an AI-generated logo? Copyright vs trademark registration
A Munich court denied copyright to AI-generated logos. Why trademark registration is the reliable way to protect an AI logo in the EU and Latin America,…
Choosing IP correspondents in Latin America and Africa: criteria and control
Brazil, OAPI and many offices require local agents. How to choose IP correspondents in Latin America and Africa, compare their costs and keep control of quality.
.CO domain disputes: why Colombia tops WIPO’s ccTLD caseload
Why .CO tops WIPO's country-code caseload, how the UDRP applies to .co names, the official fees and the defensive registrations to make before entering Colombia.
Saudi Arabia joins the Madrid System: what changes for brands in the Gulf
Saudi Arabia can be designated under the Madrid Protocol from 8 October 2026. What the 18-month refusal period and individual fee mean for brands entering the…
China rewrites its Trademark Law: what foreign brands must do before 2027
China's revised Trademark Law applies from 1 January 2027: two-month oppositions, a bad-faith test and stricter use rules. What EU and Latin American brands should do…
USMCA joint review: the US declines renewal. What it means for IP in Mexico
The US did not renew the USMCA on 1 July 2026; the agreement stays in force with annual reviews. What it means for trade marks, patents…
EU–Indonesia CEPA goes to the Council: 221 EU GIs and a full IP chapter
The Commission sent the EU–Indonesia CEPA to the Council on 29 June 2026. What its IP chapter means: 221 EU GIs, bad-faith marks, customs measures and…
IP holding structures: where should a group centralise ownership of its IP?
Which group company should own your trade marks, patents and software? Ownership models, recordal rules, Madrid limits and intra-group licences explained.
