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.
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…
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…
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.
JAD Pirates 4: what Europe’s 15-country counterfeit sweep shows
Frontex's JAD Pirates 4 seized over 1.35 million fakes worth EUR 12.2 million in 12 days. Why customs act faster for brands with an application for…
IP clauses in distribution agreements: brand use, quality and exit
Which IP clauses an international distribution agreement needs, and how the Paris Convention, the EU and Spain let you recover a mark your distributor registered.
AI training data summaries: what rights holders can learn and do next
The EU template for AI training data summaries explained section by section: scraped domains, datasets, opt-outs and what rights holders can do with the information.
WIPO Assemblies 2026: where global copyright talks stand
The 2026 WIPO Assemblies took note of the SCCR report and asked it to keep working: no broadcasting treaty, no exceptions instrument, AI still under study.
EU–Mexico trade deal cleared in Brussels: 568 EU GIs and a stronger IP chapter
The Council closed the EU side of the EU–Mexico Interim Agreement on Trade on 14 July 2026. What its IP chapter means for GIs, trade marks…
Should your brand apply for its own .brand TLD? A cost-benefit analysis
Cost-benefit analysis of a .brand TLD application in ICANN's 2026 round: fees, eligibility, Specification 13 advantages and how to protect your brand without applying.
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.
EU design filings in H1 2026: down 1% overall, Spain up 28%
EU design applications fell 1% in H1 2026 to 61,951, Spain grew 28% and China holds 28.5%. What a crowded, unexamined register means for your next…
