Never Too Late: If you missed the IPKat last week!

Kat enjoying tea outdoors.

In the second half of May, IPKat had something for every IP taste. If spring has kept you busy outdoors, here’s your round‑up:

Artificial Intelligence

Rose Hughes explored the topic of shadow use of AI as a growing and dangerous consequence of restricting AI access within the patent profession.

Patents

Rose Hughes analysed the differing US and European approaches to functional antibody claims and the interpretation of routine work by a skilled person, in light of the recent Teva v. Eli Lilly Federal Circuit decision.

Designs

Marcel Pemsel provided a list of takeaways from the recent General Court judgment in Crocs v EUIPO – Gor Factory (Chaussure) (T‑228/25).

Trade Marks

Marcel Pemsel reported on the General Court’s judgment in Les Éditions Albert René v EUIPO (T‑24/25), drawing a few takeaways on the challenges of protecting fictional characters, the impact of relevant‑public findings, and the evolving relevance of the ® symbol use.

Söğüt Atilla Aydın commented on a recent decision of the EUIPO’s Fifth Board of Appeal, which considered whether the mark TOUCH YOUR BOOBS is contrary to public policy or accepted principles of morality.

Geographical Indications

Katfriend Rebeca Ferrero Guillén reviewed Análisis Jurídico de la Denominación de Origen Protegida --El caso del queso manchego (Legal Analysis of the Protected Designation of Origin -- The Case of Manchego Cheese) by Anastasiia Kyrylenko.

Copyright

Söğüt Atilla‑Aydın reviewed Giulia Walter’s Art and Copyright Law: An Interdisciplinary Study on Interpictoriality (Routledge, 2025) -- a study of how artists’ reuse of existing works interacts with copyright rules.

Competition Law

Oliver Fairhurst examined the UK Court of Appeal’s decision in Deckers v Up & Running (UK) Ltd, centering on whether brands may impose limits on retailers’ online sales channels.

Miscellaneous

Claire Gregg highlighted a range of news, events, and opportunities from the IP world.


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