Protecting Innovations In FinTech (Video)

Sarah Harris discusses the evolving landscape of innovation and artificial intelligence, examining how regulatory frameworks are adapting to technological advancement. The conversation explores the intersection of cutting-edge AI development and the legal structures designed to govern its implementation and use.

Recent ASA decisions highlight how AI-generated advertising content can perpetuate harmful gender stereotypes and offensive imagery, particularly through deepfake technology. As generative AI becomes increasingly prevalent in marketing campaigns, regulators are emphasizing that marketers remain fully responsible for ensuring their AI-generated content complies with advertising standards, regardless of the technology used to create it.

Recruitment is one of the highest-risk areas for AI use in any organisation. It is also one of the areas where AI tools are being adopted most quickly, often with little scrutiny of what they actually do or how they reach their conclusions. The combination of speed, apparent objectivity, and legal exposure makes this a topic that HR professionals and employers cannot afford to approach without a clear understanding of the risks involved.

The SRA’s new warning notice on the misuse of artificial intelligence is not really about some distant future. It is about what is already happening in legal practice. AI tools are being used to summarise documents, draft letters, assist with legal research, prepare chronologies and make routine work quicker. Used sensibly, they can be genuinely helpful. Used carelessly, they can create serious regulatory problems.

The EU Data Act introduces new access by design requirements for connected products and related services, fundamentally changing how IoT providers must handle product data accessibility. As the first anniversary of the Act's general applicability approaches, manufacturers and service providers face critical compliance deadlines that will reshape data access standards across the smart device market.

The UK remains without comprehensive AI legislation despite years of debate and promises. Now, a Private Member's Bill proposing to prohibit artificial superintelligence development has been introduced in Parliament, marking the most significant legislative move on AI safety to date. With recent incidents of AI agents breaking containment and warnings from AI researchers about extinction risks, pressure is mounting on the government to act.

The transparency obligations introduced by Article 50 of the EU AI Act (Act) apply to AI providers (organisations that create or supply AI systems) and deployers (organisations that operate such systems as part of their business activities). The Act’s requirements are being phased in gradually and the transparency obligations that came into force on 2 August are one of the significant implementation milestones. The purpose of the Article 50 transparency obligations is to help individuals understand whether content is AI-generated.

We are delighted to launch our new podcast series, Insuring AI, which explores the broad range of questions that AI is throwing up for the insurance world.

Advertisers using AI-generated content face complex transparency requirements that vary significantly between the UK and EU. While UK law focuses on preventing consumer deception without explicit AI labelling mandates, the EU AI Act introduces strict disclosure obligations for 'deep fakes' that could catch even UK-based campaigns if they reach EU audiences.

The Financial Stability Board (FSB) has published a letter from its Chair and Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, to G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors.

Insilico Medicine has reported that Rentosertib, an AI-discovered clinical candidate for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, demonstrates effectiveness in reversing the predicted biological age of IPF patients according to six independent proteomic aging clocks. The molecule's dual-purpose approach—targeting both a diagnosable disease and biological aging simultaneously—may open new pathways for anti-aging therapies...

The European Patent Office Board of Appeal has issued a surprising judgment demonstrating how adding a manufacturing step to a computer-aided design method can paradoxically extend patent scope post-grant. This case explores the intricate relationship between process claims and product protection under Article 64(2) EPC...

James May has partnered with Dorset brewer Hall & Woodhouse to launch The Spanner, a traditional cask ale that raises intriguing questions about trade mark strategy in the food and drink sector. From choosing a distinctive name to navigating ownership in celebrity collaborations, this new beer demonstrates why proper trade mark protection matters before a brand goes to market.

The Enlarged Board of Appeal has issued its decision in G 1/25, addressing the long-debated question of when patent descriptions must be amended to align with claims. The ruling establishes that adaptation is required only when inconsistencies create substantive EPC violations, rejecting both the strict alignment approach and the complete removal of amendment requirements.

The UK has approved a marketing notice for the "Sunshine" tomato, a gene-edited variety engineered to contain elevated levels of provitamin D3. This milestone marks the first precision-bred tomato to receive approval under England's post-Brexit regulatory framework, bringing a new dietary source of vitamin D closer to commercialisation while demonstrating the practical implementation of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023.

From October 2026, brand owners will gain access to the Madrid Protocol for trademark protection in Saudi Arabia, opening new opportunities for international businesses. This streamlined filing system allows multiple territories to be designated within a single application, potentially offering significant cost savings and reduced administrative complexity for companies expanding their brand protection into the Middle East market.

Scotland's technology start-up ecosystem is experiencing remarkable growth, with new business formation outpacing the rest of the UK. However, converting this entrepreneurial momentum into sustainable, scalable success requires founders to prioritize intellectual property protection from day one, as IP assets increasingly determine investment decisions and long-term competitive advantage.

Glasgow's XWORKS innovation hub represents a £11 million investment in advanced manufacturing infrastructure, set to provide 45,000 sq ft of flexible workspace for mid-tech companies in clean energy, defence, space and life sciences sectors. The facility, scheduled for completion in early 2027, aims to lift technological limitations for innovators and start-ups while strengthening Glasgow's position as a destination for innovation-led businesses.

The UK Government has launched a new challenge to encourage the development of Ultra-Long Duration Energy Storage (Ultra-LDES) technologies to complement the UK's transition...

University intellectual property commercialisation presents complex challenges around ownership, protection, and value realisation. This analysis examines how UK universities navigate the journey from academic research to market-ready ventures, exploring spinout formation, licensing strategies, and the critical role of patent protection in life sciences innovation.