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IP Legal Bulletin
Short notes on rule changes at patent and trade mark offices: laws, fees, procedures, deadlines and funding calls. Every note links to its official source, and past issues stay in the archive.
- Information, not legal advice
- Written with AI assistance, checked automatically against the source
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Offices followed: 14 (EPO, EUIPO, EU, UKIPO, DPMA (Germany), IGE (Switzerland), PRV (Sweden), PRH (Finland), Patentamt (Austria), IPOI (Ireland), USPTO, TIPO (Taiwan), WIPO, IPONZ (New Zealand)). · 29 coming soon
Issue of 1 June 2026
5 notes
- EPOLaw or regulation
Implementing Regulations to the EPC updated with gender-neutral references
The EPO published an updated version of the Implementing Regulations to the Convention on the Grant of European Patents, as last amended by the Administrative Council on 14 December 2023. References to persons in the Implementing Regulations are to be understood as gender-neutral.
Published by the source on 1 June 2026
- EPOTreaty or accession
Republic of Moldova joins the European Patent Organisation as 40th member state
The Republic of Moldova becomes the 40th member state of the European Patent Organisation. The accession takes effect on 1 June.
Published by the source on 1 June 2026
- USPTOProcedure
USPTO launches SPARK pilot to expedite examination for standards participants
Under the SPARK Pilot Program, examination of certain patent applications and ex parte appeals to the PTAB may be expedited if the U.S.-domiciled applicant meaningfully took part in a voluntary consensus-based standards development organization. The application or appeal does not need to relate to that participation. Accepted applications get special status until a first Office action is issued, and accepted appeals are advanced out of turn before the PTAB.
Published by the source on 3 June 2026
Official source: Federal Register, United States Patent and Trademark Office
- PRV (Sweden)Procedure
PRV to discontinue fax service from 1 November 2026
PRV will stop using fax from 1 November 2026. The office says the change follows Sweden's nationwide phase-out of the copper network and supports its work on secure, modern and accessible communication channels.
Published by the source on 4 June 2026
Official source: Swedish Patent and Registration Office (PRV), news
- PRV (Sweden)Fees
Dispatch fee applies to all deliveries from PRV
PRV charges a dispatch fee whenever it sends documents or other materials to customers. The fee applies whether the delivery is electronic or by post.
Published by the source on 1 June 2026
Official source: Swedish Patent and Registration Office (PRV), news
Notes are written with the help of artificial intelligence from the offices’ official sources, and each note is checked automatically against its source before it appears. Our editors review and correct them. Every note links to its source. Information, not legal advice.
Archive
Past issues, newest first.
- Issue of 9 November 20263 notes
- Issue of 2 November 20266 notes
- Issue of 26 October 20262 notes
- Issue of 19 October 20261 note
- Issue of 12 October 20262 notes
- Issue of 28 September 20267 notes
- Issue of 14 September 20262 notes
- Issue of 7 September 20262 notes
- Issue of 31 August 20261 note
- Issue of 24 August 20264 notes
- Issue of 17 August 20262 notes
- Issue of 10 August 20264 notes
- Issue of 3 August 20261 note
- Issue of 27 July 20263 notes
- Issue of 20 July 20264 notes
- Issue of 13 July 20266 notes
- Issue of 6 July 20261 note
- Issue of 29 June 20263 notes
- Issue of 22 June 20265 notes
- Issue of 15 June 20263 notes
- Issue of 8 June 20266 notes
- Issue of 25 May 20262 notes
- Issue of 18 May 20261 note
- Issue of 11 May 20261 note
Offices coming soon
These offices are declared and will be followed as soon as their official source can be read automatically. Their notes are not in the bulletin yet.
Europe
- UPCEurope (UPC states)
- MIMIT (Italy)Italy
- OEPM (Spain)Spain
- DKPTO (Denmark)Denmark
- Patentstyret (Norway)Norway
- BOIP (Benelux)Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg
- UPRP (Poland)Poland
- IPO CZ (Czechia)Czechia
- INPI (Portugal)Portugal
- TURKPATENT (Türkiye)Türkiye
- Rospatent (Russia)Russia
Asia
- JPO (Japan)Japan
- KIPO (Korea)South Korea
- CNIPA (China)China
- CGPDTM (India)India
- IPD (Hong Kong)Hong Kong
- IP VietnamVietnam
- IPOPHL (Philippines)Philippines
- DIP (Thailand)Thailand
- DGIP (Indonesia)Indonesia
- MyIPO (Malaysia)Malaysia
- ILPO (Israel)Israel
- SAIP (Saudi Arabia)Saudi Arabia
International
- EAPOEurasia
- OAPIAfrica (member states)
- GCC Patent OfficeGulf Cooperation Council
Other
- IP AustraliaAustralia
- INPI (Brazil)Brazil
- CIPC (South Africa)South Africa
Also watched, with nothing relevant lately: INPI (France), IPOS (Singapore), ARIPO, CIPO (Canada), IMPI (Mexico).