History Suggests That A (Long) Delay In Implementing The SEP Regulation Is Likely

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

The ongoing commercial rivalry between fast-fashion giants Shein and Temu has evolved into one of the most significant intellectual property disputes in the e-commerce sector. This landmark case examines critical questions about copyright ownership, platform liability, and the legal responsibilities of online marketplaces in the digital age.

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.

Some key takeaways from the Scottish Tech Industry Survey 2025.

Anthropic's updated Acceptable Use Policy introduces significant changes for organisations building on Claude, extending far beyond the headline-grabbing prohibition on abusive behaviour towards the AI model. The policy now addresses deceptive campaigns, election interference, weapons development, surveillance systems, and requires human oversight for high-impact decisions affecting individuals' rights and wellbeing.

ICANN has published the list of applications for the 2026 round of new generic Top-Level Domains, with ten parties applying for the ".brand" gTLD. This development presents significant opportunities and challenges for brand protection, as companies weigh the costs and benefits of securing their own domain extensions in an increasingly complex digital landscape.

The Paris Motor Show 2026 kicked off today (well, last night for Stellantis Group at their “The Night Before” showcase) and I've noticed a couple of initial themes coming out of the cars on display so far. Motor shows are a great opportunity to see what we can expect from the automotive industry in the short-medium term.

The UK Intellectual Property Office has released new guidance following the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Emotional Perception AI Ltd v Comptroller-General, fundamentally changing how AI and computer-implemented inventions are examined in the UK.

UC Berkeley Law AI Institute brought together academics, venture capitalists, judges, lawyers, and general counsels from leading AI companies to discuss critical issues spanning intellectual property, privacy, European regulation, and AI governance. The event revealed significant gaps in law firm AI policies, explored the judiciary's role in AI implementation, and examined the fragmented regulatory landscape alongside massive US venture capital investment in AI model development.

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...

In particular, the Commission held that the platform failed to assess staffing requirements for the review of potentially illegal products, how its advertising systems were contributing to the proliferation of illegal products, and how well its systems prevented the risk of illegal products appearing or being re-listed.

On Tuesday, a New York jury unanimously ruled in favour of Chanel in their lawsuit against the luxury second-hand reseller, What Goes Around Comes Around (WGACA).

McLaren has unveiled a new logo inspired by the McLaren family service station in Auckland, New Zealand, alongside the heritage-focused McL 6GT supercar featuring the iconic Speedy Kiwi logo. The reintroduction of these heritage marks raises important intellectual property considerations around trade mark protection, non-use vulnerabilities, and strategic portfolio management as the brand expands into new markets including its first SUV.