Inside IP Summer 2026
Welcome to our Inside IP Summer 2026 edition!
This edition comes at an exciting time for Venner Shipley, with our London office relocation, a successful INTA in London, exam results, and recent awards and recognitions.
This issue also captures a diverse range of developments across the IP landscape. We look at how the EPO approaches patent protection for computer games and the implications of the Emotional Perception ruling for AI-driven and gaming innovations in the UK. We also explore how social media is reshaping trade mark use and enforcement, alongside practical guidance on using ® and ™ symbols and protecting brands in industries from professional wrestling to global hospitality.
As Pride Month is celebrated throughout June, we also explore the trade mark dispute between Patagonia and climate activist and drag queen Pattie Gonia, examining the intersection of brand protection, personal identity and creative expression.
In life sciences and health tech, we cover IP due diligence in biotech and pharma, innovations in endometriosis diagnostics, and the implications of the European Health Data Space for data and IP rights, alongside recent EPO guidance confirming that priority for therapeutic inventions requires sufficient disclosure of key functional features such as tolerability at the priority date. We also examine EPO biological deposit requirements and the latest EU Pharma Package reforms and what they mean for pharmaceutical companies.
Beyond this, we consider the growing role of AI in sport, timely alongside the FIFA World Cup, as well as developments in clean technology, including next-generation geothermal energy. Together, these articles highlight the breadth of innovation and the evolving challenges and opportunities shaping the IP landscape.
Our perspective on…
AI and patents in sport: ready, set, innovate
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup underway, attention turns to the growing role of AI in sport, from performance and officiating to fan engagement and patent protection.
Examining whether video game inventions can be patented in Europe, including how the EPO approaches gaming-related IP and where opportunities for protection may arise.
Levelling up: Emotional Perception and gaming patents
The impact of the Emotional Perception ruling on patent eligibility for gaming technologies and AI‑based innovations in the UK.
EPO clarifies sufficiency at the priority date in T 0883/23
The EPO Board of Appeal in T 0883/23 confirms that priority for therapeutic inventions requires sufficient disclosure of key functional features such as tolerability at the priority date, meaning later data cannot compensate for gaps in the original filing.
When infringement is a drag: the Patagonia v Pattie Gonia showdown
The Patagonia v Pattie Gonia dispute highlights the challenges of balancing trade mark rights with personal identity, creative expression and social commentary.
Amgen v Sanofi: EPO appeal withdrawal confirms European alignment
A significant development in Amgen v Sanofi sees the withdrawal of the EPO appeal, confirming the patent’s validity and reinforcing alignment between the EPO and the UPC in assessing antibody patents.
Innovations in endometriosis diagnostics
Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women, yet diagnosis can take up to a decade due to non-specific symptoms and limited testing, highlighting the need for improved diagnostic innovation.
Clean technology series: geothermal energy – a revolution beneath our feet
Next-generation geothermal technologies are unlocking a vast, largely untapped energy source beneath our feet, with the potential to deliver clean, reliable power at scale.
Being Gordon Ramsay and the business of intellectual property
How Gordon Ramsay has built a global brand empire through strategic use of intellectual property.
The hidden role of trade marks behind the scenes of professional wrestling.
How social media has rewritten the trade mark rulebook: what brand owners need to know
Social media is transforming trade mark use and enforcement, presenting both risks and opportunities for brand owners.
Guide to use of the ® and ™ symbols
A practical guide to using the ® and ™ symbols correctly to protect and strengthen your brand.
What the European Health Data Space means for data access, privacy risks, and the protection of intellectual property.
The EU Pharma Package will reshape medicine regulation and exclusivity in Europe, creating a more complex and reduced protection landscape for pharmaceutical companies.
Inside Venner Shipley
Beyond the latest IP insights, it has been a busy and exciting few months at Venner Shipley. From an important new chapter for the firm with our move of our London office to TIDE Bankside, the welcoming clients and contacts from across the global IP community to London during INTA 2026, we are pleased to share some recent highlights and achievements from across the firm.
A new chapter: our move to TIDE Bankside
In April, we relocated our London office to TIDE Bankside, marking an exciting new milestone for Venner Shipley. The move reflects our continued growth and investment in creating a modern, collaborative workspace for our people and clients in the heart of London.
We have enjoyed settling into the new office and recently celebrated the move with our summer party, bringing colleagues together to mark this exciting new milestone.
Recognition and achievements
We are also proud to celebrate a number of recent achievements across the firm:
Trade Mark Disputes Team of the Year – Managing IP EMEA Awards 2026
We were recognised at the Managing IP EMEA Awards 2026, winning Trade Mark Disputes Team of the Year.
Intellectual Property Team of the Year – Cambridgeshire Law Society Legal Excellence Awards 2026
We were proud to be named Intellectual Property Team of the Year at the Cambridgeshire Law Society Legal Excellence Awards 2026.
We have once again been recognised in the IAM Patent 1000 2026 rankings.
We celebrate excellent exam results across the firm.
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