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.
The Hague System in numbers: what 2025 data tells cross-border designers
WIPO's 2025 Hague data: record design filings, top origins and designated members, leading Locarno classes, average fees and what they mean for Europe, LatAm and Africa.
Trademark squatting and bad-faith filings: a playbook for EU, LatAm and China
How to prevent and fight trademark squatting across the EU, Latin America and China: bad-faith remedies, deadlines, agent rules and China's 2027 reform.
Trademark watch in 25 jurisdictions: a calendar built on opposition deadlines
Opposition windows run from one month in Mexico to three at the EUIPO and OAPI. How to set a trademark watch calendar across Europe, Latin America…
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…
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…
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…
Counterfeit components in critical sectors: lessons from OLAF and EUIPO
OLAF and the EUIPO put counterfeit parts in aviation, energy and telecoms on the agenda. What manufacturers should change in distribution contracts and customs filings.
How courts set FRAND rates: what the EPO’s new study means for implementers
The EPO's study of 65 FRAND decisions shows courts favour comparable licences, with top-down as a cross-check. What SEP implementers should test before signing.
