Sunday Surprises
Marcel Pemsel
With the European summer gradually winding down, the IP world shows no signs of slowing. From a new minister responsible for intellectual property in the UK to upcoming conferences and the latest Lisbon System bulletin, here is a selection of developments that caught our attention this week.
Job Opportunities
Copyright Litigation Specialist (remote, EU)
Sumfinity
is looking for a self-employed copyright litigation specialist. If you
are interested in leading copyright disputes before courts across the
European Union, developing litigation strategies under the European
Small Claims Procedure, and researching national differences in
copyright law to improve outcomes country by country, you might be the
right fit for the role. Click here for more information.
New Minister for IP in the UK
The UK’s intellectual property community has a new ministerial interlocutor: Chris McDonald MP has
been confirmed as the Minister of State with responsibility for
intellectual property. McDonald brings substantial technical expertise
to the role, which has already been welcomed by several IP stakeholders.
Events
29 and 30 September 2026: EPO: Opposition Matters 2026 (online)
The
online event Opposition Matters 2026 brings together patent
professionals and experts from the EPO and partner institutions to
discuss key developments around inventive step in opposition
proceedings, including data trends, quality initiatives, AI tools,
evidence evaluation and key decisions. For further information see here.
9-10 September 2026: 10th European Intellectual Property Forum (Brussels)
The
10th edition of the European Intellectual Property Forum brings
together senior IP professionals for discussions on European IP policy
and practice in Brussels. Find out more here.
17 November 2026: AI & IP (Brussels)
If
you are interested in AI, why not join in-house IP counsel, private
practice attorneys and IP specialists in Brussels for a day of candid,
evidence-based conversation about what AI is actually doing to IP law
and practice in 2026, and what to do about it? Check out this one-day
event here.
Trade Mark Offices
WIPO: Bulletin of the Lisbon System
Friends
of appellations of origin and geographical indications can probably not
wait to get their hands on the latest edition of the Bulletin of the Lisbon System.
It includes updated information on the international registrations,
declarations of refusal, modifications and other key transactions
notified and published during the second quarter of 2026.
The picture is by Primitive Spaces and used under the licensing terms of pexels.com.