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.
INPI Brazil’s new Patent Services Module: what changes for PCT entries
From 16 September 2026, PCT national phase entries in Brazil are filed in INPI's Patent Services Module, with the GRU fee slip paid in the same…
Spain and Portugal: national design at OEPM or straight to an EU design?
OEPM, INPI Portugal or EUIPO? Official fees, renewals over 25 years, oppositions and the pending reform of Law 20/2003, compared to choose the right design route…
Iberian trademark strategy: OEPM, Portugal’s INPI or an EU trade mark?
OEPM and INPI national marks or an EU trade mark? A practical comparison of fees, opposition periods, risks and licensing for companies entering Spain and Portugal.
OAPI’s first Lisbon GIs: Madd de Casamance and Penja pepper
Madd de Casamance and Penja pepper are the first OAPI GIs registered under the Lisbon Geneva Act. Where they can take effect and how EU trademark…
.BR domain disputes: how SACI-Adm differs from the UDRP
Brazil's SACI-Adm protects trade and civil names, needs bad faith in registration or use only and runs in Portuguese. How it differs from the UDRP and…
Cross-border patent licensing: recording in Brazil, Spain and Portugal
Brazil's new INPI contract rules, licence recording in Spain and Portugal, royalties after Brazil's 2023 tax reform and licence-of-right fee savings explained.
AI training data licensing: key clauses for Iberia and Latin America
Iberian and Latin American law reads licences restrictively. The clauses an AI training data licence needs: scope of use, warranties, opt-outs, remuneration and audit.
GEMA v Suno ruling: AI music trained in the US can infringe in Germany
Munich Regional Court I held on 31 July 2026 that Suno infringed six songs through US training, memorisation and outputs, rejecting the TDM exception and US…
Portugal as the EU entry point for Brazilian companies: IP in Portuguese
How Brazilian companies can protect their brands in Portugal and the EU largely in Portuguese, and where language, representation and Madrid rules set limits.
Patents in Spain and Portugal: Portugal is in the UPC, Spain is not
A Unitary Patent covers Portugal but not Spain. How to combine unitary, European and national routes, translation deadlines and courts in one Iberian plan.
OPENAI refused (T-555/25): how to name an AI product you can register
The General Court upheld the EUIPO refusal of OPENAI as descriptive (T-555/25, 15 July 2026). What it means for naming and registering AI products in the…
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…
