Key Takeaways and Outlook for 2022
While European intellectual property (IP) regimes have slowly digested the Brexit shock, brand owners are vacillating between optimism and apprehension in 2022 as they navigate continuous developments in IP law. At the forefront is the prospect of greater patent law harmonization with the entry into force of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) and the European patent with unitary effect. En route to this unification, however, are some anticipated challenges.
The actions initiated in 2021 that will continue to spark conversation (and controversy) in 2022 include:
- After a Multiyear Saga, UPC Nears Fruition
- SEPs and FRAND Laws Take Unexpected Turns Throughout Germany, Europe
- Luxe Cosmetic Brand Successfully Obtains Trademark Protection for 3D Lipstick Shape
- No Similarity Between Water and Alcoholic Beverages in the European Union
- German Patent Act Reform Poses Substantive Changes but Not a “Game Changer”
Dominik Rissman, a trainee in the Dusseldorf office, also contributed to this report.
