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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 8 June 2026
6 notes
- EPOProcedure
EPO notice on continuation of proceedings in view of referral G 1/26
The EPO published a notice on the continuation of proceedings in view of referral G 1/26. The questions referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal concern Article 112(1) EPC, the reading of the description and drawings into claim meaning, and Article 123(2) EPC.
Published by the source on 11 June 2026
- USPTOProcedure
USPTO issues supplemental guidance on design patents for computer-generated interfaces and icons
The USPTO issued supplemental guidance on design patent applications for computer-generated interfaces, such as GUIs and icons. The guidance clarifies how those applications meet the article of manufacture requirement.
Published by the source on 12 June 2026
- USPTOCase law
USPTO precedential decision bars foreign governments as AIA petitioners
In Tianma Microelectronics v. LG Display, the USPTO Director held that a foreign government, like the United States government, is not a person under the America Invents Act. A foreign government cannot be a petitioner or a real party in interest in an inter partes review or post-grant review. The Director denied institution after the patent owner put the identification of all real parties in interest into dispute.
Published by the source on 10 June 2026
- USPTOCase law
USPTO precedential decision explains Director's discretion in IPR institution
In Magnolia Medical v. Kurin, the Director denied IPR institution. The petitioner raised issues it had already litigated and lost in district court instead of using the PTAB as a true alternative to litigation.
Published by the source on 10 June 2026
- USPTOProcedure
TTAB Center adds new filing options
The USPTO continues to add filing options in the TTAB Center. The update gives trademark users new ways to file at the TTAB.
Published by the source on 10 June 2026
- USPTOFees
USPTO waives petition fee for Streamlined Claim Set pilot program
The USPTO waives the petition fee for the Streamlined Claim Set pilot program. The office says this reduces financial barriers to taking part in the program.
Published by the source on 10 June 2026
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 1 June 20265 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).