"Checkmate" For Louis Vuitton

Article 50 of the EU AI Act introduces sweeping transparency obligations for AI providers and deployers, requiring disclosure of AI interactions, marking of AI-generated content, and labeling of deepfakes. These rules carry significant commercial and IP implications for businesses using AI to create marketing materials, synthetic influencers, and other valuable assets.

Generative AI has created a legal vacuum where synthetic images and deepfakes can be created and shared without consent, yet English law offers no standalone "image right" to protect individuals. With celebrities like Lisa Riley and over 80 performers demanding reform, the question is whether the UK's patchwork of intellectual property, data protection, and common law protections can adequately address this rapidly evolving threat to personal autonomy and reputation.

As AI voice cloning technology becomes increasingly sophisticated and accessible, the Save Our Voices Now campaign calls for statutory rights allowing individuals to own and control their voice as intellectual property. This article examines whether existing UK law sufficiently protects one of our most personal and recognisable attributes, exploring copyright, trade marks, passing off, and the practical steps individuals and businesses can take.

The UK High Court has delivered a landmark ruling on online marketplace liability, dismissing Shein's copyright infringement claims against Temu and clarifying when platforms can be held responsible for third-party content. The judgment examines the boundaries of copyright ownership in complex supply chains and establishes important precedents for how marketplace operators should respond to infringement allegations.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has convened the Creative Industries AI Summit in Manchester to bring together rightsholders, regulators, platforms and AI labs to align on a common approach to copyright-protected works in AI development. The Summit will unveil the 'Manchester Principles', a framework establishing minimum conditions for using human creative work to train generative AI models.

The Emotional Perception saga has become a defining case for patenting AI inventions in the UK. Most significantly, the Supreme Court judgement1 of February 2026 has reformed the examination of mixed-typed inventions in general, i.e. inventions containing a ‘mixture’ of technical and non-technical features.

The UPC Court of Appeal has confirmed that the Unified Patent Court can exercise jurisdiction over European patent applications, provided they are granted before the defendant files their statement of defence. This landmark decision means patent holders may now be locked into the UPC system even before their patents are officially granted, fundamentally changing the strategic timing considerations for opting out of UPC jurisdiction.

Understanding the financial commitment of patent maintenance is essential for long-term IP protection. UK patents require annual renewal fees starting four years after filing, with costs increasing progressively each year.

Trademark phishing campaigns are rising, with businesses increasingly being targeted by highly sophisticated, AI-driven trademark scams. Alice Wright analyses a prominent registration scam recently circulating in the UK to offer advice on how to identify trademark scams, what immediate steps to take if targeted, and how to proactively protect your business through legitimate channels.

ICANN received over 1600 applications for new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) after closing its application window in August 2026. With Reveal Day set for October 7, 2026, brand owners must prepare to review published strings and consider filing legal rights objections by the March 16, 2027 deadline to protect their trademarks from potential infringement.

The National Security and Investment Act 2021 (NSIA) came into force on 4 January 2022, creating a standalone regime giving the UK Government broad powers to scrutinise – and potentially intervene in – acquisitions and investments on the grounds of protecting national security. Nearly five years on, the NSIA regime is well established. It replaced the national security aspects of the UK Government’s intervention powers under the Enterprise Act 2002 and operates alongside the UK merger control regime.

Minimum purchase obligations in distribution agreements require careful drafting to avoid disputes. This analysis examines critical implementation questions: what counts toward the minimum, how to handle supplier shortfalls, adjustment mechanisms, and enforcement consequences including exclusivity loss, price adjustments, and termination rights.

The FCA has announced increased scrutiny of Annex 1 financial institutions following concerns about financial crime risks, with particular focus on firms' reliance on parent-company controls and risks from unregulated lending through complex structures. This article examines the FCA's evolving approach to Annex 1 firms over the past two years and provides practical guidance for existing firms...

The UK government has introduced significant reforms to employment law, including extended tribunal time limits, enhanced union rights, and new bereavement leave entitlements. These changes will reshape workplace obligations for employers across England and Wales, with implementation dates ranging from October 2025 through 2027.

From Spring 2027, UK employers with 250 or more employees must produce and publish Equality Action Plans addressing gender pay gaps and menopause support. What specific actions must organizations include, how should they structure their plans, and what are the review requirements? This guide breaks down the mandatory requirements and provides practical steps for compliance with the upcoming legislation.

In last month's issue of Fashion Focus we considered the consequences of fashion brands falling foul of the Competition and Market Authority's Green Claims Code.

When Hasbro alleged that SConnect's Wolfoo animated series infringed Peppa Pig copyrights through unauthorized audio clips, the High Court granted summary judgment based on spectrographic evidence. The case reveals critical lessons about outsourcing liability, international copyright exposure, and the strategic advantages of early litigation decisions.

Major sporting events like the FIFA World Cup attract enormous commercial interest, but non-sponsors face significant legal risks when attempting to associate their brands with these tournaments. Understanding the boundaries between creative marketing and unlawful ambush marketing requires careful navigation of trade mark law, passing off, copyright protection, and consumer protection regulations that safeguard official sponsorship rights.

The Government has confirmed that significant changes to Companies House accounts filing requirements will come into force from 1 April 2028 as part of the implementation of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA).

This follows earlier announcements by the CMA here and here and is part of a wider investigation by the CMA into misleading environmental claims.