Updates on IP news from our global team!

Third-Party Observations at the EPO:

A Simple and Cost-Effective Tool,

But Use It Wisely

Last month, the European Patent Office (EPO) issued a notice on the processing of third-party observations (TPOs) and the new online form for filing them. This is a good opportunity to review the key principles of TPOs and their potential effects, both positive and negative.

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IP Tribunal of Supreme People’s Court Awarded Punitive Damages of $295 Million Over the Past Seven Years

On January 28, 2026, the Supreme People’s Court of China (SPC) held a press conference to summarize the results of intellectual property cases decided since the establishment of its Intellectual Property Tribunal on January 1, 2019. Notable data highlighted during the conference included the application of punitive damages, which reflects China’s increased emphasis on strengthening intellectual property protection in recent years.  Over the seven years since its inception, the Intellectual Property Tribunal has applied punitive damages in a total of 58 cases, with the cumulative amount awarded in punitive damages reaching 20.5 billion CNY (nearly 295 million USD).  This translates to an average award exceeding 35 million CNY (about 5 million USD) per case.

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China Officially Releases the Trademark Law (Draft for Revision) for Public Comment

On December 27, 2025, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China officially released the “Trademark Law of the People’s Republic of China (Draft for Revision)” for public comment.  This revision marks the fifth modification since the implementation of China’s Trademark Law in 1983, and it deeply reconstructs the system in terms of bad-faith registration, procedural efficiency, and the exercise of rights.  Although the draft revision deleted the previously controversial proposals such as the “mandatory five-year use statement” and the “mandatory transfer of bad-faith registrations,” its core policy objectives of curbing bad-faith applications, strengthening use obligations, and improving procedural efficiency have not changed.

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Qatar and Republic

of Korea Sign Agreement 

On December 14, 2025, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Qatar (MOCI) signed an agreement with the Ministry of Intellectual Property of the Republic of Korea and the Korea Intellectual Property Strategy Agency (KISTA).

This agreement will further enhance Qatar’s IP and innovation ecosystem, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy (QNA).

EPO Fee Increase Takes Effect April 1, 2026

The European Patent Office (EPO) has announced official fee increases effective April 1, 2026. Most fees will rise by approximately 5%, although filing, opposition, and appeal fees remain unchanged.

Consider entering the European regional phase or making advance official fee payments on existing applications before this date.



UAE Rolls Out Online Platform for Listing & Trading Trademarks

On November 26, 2025, the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism announced the launch of the new trademark platform “TM Market Place”.

The Platform is a result of collaboration between the Ministry of Economy and Tourism and the UAE Government Leaders Program, and it is the first of its kind in the Gulf.





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