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.
UPC costs for SMEs: fee reductions, recoverable costs and security
Small firms pay 50% of UPC fees since 2026, but La Siddhi v Athena confirms SME status is no shield against security for costs. Fees, ceilings…
How to file a customs application for action in the EU
How to file a free customs application for action in the EU through the IP Enforcement Portal: who can file, what data to give, deadlines after…
Publishers v Google over Gemini: scope-limited licences and your deals
Hachette, Cengage, Elsevier and Scott Turow sued Google on 10 July 2026 over Gemini training. Why the scope-limited licence theory matters for content licensing in Europe.
.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.
Regulation (EU) 2026/715: the codified EU Design Regulation and its fees
Regulation (EU) 2026/715 codifies EU design law from 1 July 2026: new article numbers, the official fee table and which contracts and templates to update.
Public domain here, protected there: CJEU Anne Frank geo-blocking ruling
The CJEU's Anne Frank ruling (C-788/24): a work in the public domain in some EU countries can be published online if effective geo-blocking keeps out users…
Rosalía’s LUX refused: laudatory words and the “any EU language” test
The EUIPO refused Rosalía's LUX application because Romanian speakers read it as luxury. What the any-language rule means for Spanish and Latin American brand names.
Silimed v Polytech: an opt-out by the wrong owner still locks out the UPC
Brazilian Silimed won its European patent back in Germany, but an opt-out filed by the old owner and a prior national revocation action kept it out…
Guardant v Sophia Genetics: UPC appeal court refuses a late injunction
The UPC Court of Appeal refused Guardant a preliminary injunction because it waited nearly three months. What the order says about urgency, multiple patents and costs.
Contracts with AI vendors: output ownership, indemnities and data
Who owns AI output, what vendor IP indemnities exclude and whether your data trains the model: the clauses to check in AI vendor contracts, with EU…
Cross-border IP strategy US–LatAm: where Madrid, Hague and PCT stop working
PCT, Madrid and Hague leave gaps in Latin America: Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Venezuela are outside the PCT and Madrid covers four markets. A country-by-country roadmap.
El Salvador joins the Hague System: design protection from 7 October 2026
El Salvador joins the Hague System on 7 October 2026. Only seven Latin American and Caribbean countries are members: where Hague works and where you still…
