Local Insights

James Davies and Vishen Pillay at Adams & Adams discuss IP protection strategies and ownership considerations for AI

Werina Griffiths and Nontando Tusi at Adams & Adams discuss the implications of the adoption of AI in Africa and globally

Matthew Costard of Spoor & Fisher Jersey provides a guide to the key updates as Rwanda expands the scope of its intellectual property protection regime

Son Thai Hoang and Linh Thi Mai Nguyen of Tilleke & Gibbins highlight the strict stance taken by the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam on assignments conflicting with trade names and join the calls for clearer guidance

The Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court has confirmed that a design’s overall appearance should be considered when determining its eligibility for patent protection, report Nuttaphol Arammuang and Tanapong Pongburanakit of Tilleke & Gibbins

Min Son of Hanol IP & Law reports on a decision that should provide improved guidance in determining whether patents or approved drugs are eligible for a patent term extension in South Korea

Artificial intelligence (AI), which does not yet have a solid definition, can generally be described as “the ability of a digital computer or computer controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings.” AI systems have started to play a part in our daily life and today they carry out crucial roles for human beings. For instance, BlueDot’s AI system was among the first in the world to identify the emerging risk from COVID-19.

In a much awaited preliminary decision, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled on April 2 2020 (C-567/18 Coty Germany GmbH v Amazon Services Europe Sarl et al) on the responsibilities of Amazon warehouse-keepers in relation to the sale by a third-party seller on the online marketplace, Amazon Marketplace, of perfume bottles for which the rights had not been exhausted.

At the beginning of 1998, the EPO began allowing oral proceedings to be held as a video conference (OJ EPO 1997, 572). Video conferencing was only available for oral proceedings held before an examining division, i.e. prior to grant of the European patent. Oral proceedings before examining divisions are more suited to video conferencing as they are usually shorter and less complex than opposition oral proceedings, they are not open to the public, and only one party is present (the patent applicant).

Roberta Arantes of Daniel Law looks at how the Brazilian legal landscape has responded to shifts in the concept of branding and its related levels of protection

Kene Gallois and Guilherme Coutinho of Daniel Law explain how the success of the plan will pave the way for Brazil to attract further investment and opportunities

André Oliveira of Daniel Law considers how IP infringement and brand protection has evolved in Brazil amid the pandemic

Alejandro Salas of OLIVARES questions whether requiring the submission of original objects for comparison is hindering the proper enforcement of trademark rights and represents an ‘improper interpretation’ of the criminal statute

With TikTok videos frequently using music created by popular artists and adding a personal touch to trends, Jaime Ortega of OLIVARES answers a central question regarding whether the videos constitute original creations or reproductions

Three years after a new industrial property law took effect, the time has come for an important action to become available regarding contested trademark registrations. Emmanuel Chávez of OLIVARES heralds a ‘positive’ development