Europe

Jakob Pade Frederiksen of Inspicos highlights how a recent ruling relating to the applicable standard for inventive step assessment diverges from the EPO’s problem-solution approach

Spain’s Donut case shows how widespread linguistic use does not necessarily erode trademark rights. Diogo Antunes of Inventa examines how Spanish and Portuguese practice address lexicalisation, reputation, and the boundary between descriptiveness and genericide

Maria Kilimiris of Patrinos & Kilimiris explains how an interim ruling concerning the likelihood of confusion between Fenistil and Knistil highlights how pharmaceutical trademarks and product get-up are assessed under EU and national law

Anne-Raphaëlle Aubry of Bird & Bird explains how Section 1782 and Rule of Procedure 190 offer different pathways for cross-border evidence gathering in European patent disputes, highlighting timing, scope, and strategic considerations for litigants

Selin Sinem Erciyas of Gün + Partners explores the growing alignment between Turkish courts and the Unified Patent Court in applying a strictly technical-functional standard for patent infringement by equivalence

Vítor Palmela Fidalgo of Inventa examines how Portuguese case law diverges from EU rules on acquired distinctiveness, highlighting the Pão de Rio Maior decision and its implications for trademark interpretation and consumer protection