IP Law Watch

Legal issues, law, and regulations concerning the world of IP.

1
The “Showgirl” Showdown: What the Taylor Swift Lawsuit Reveals About Creative Expression, Trademarks, and Commercial Identity
2
The UK Sporting Events Bill 2026—A New Playbook for Major Events?
3
High Court “Zips” Up Honest Concurrent Use
4
Artificial Intelligence and Copyright: Where Does the United Kingdom Stand?
5
Dividing and Conquering: Best Method Obligations Follow Every Divisional Patent Application
6
USPTO Introduces Patent Owner Pre Order Submission on SNQ in Ex Parte Reexam
7
Fame Isn’t Everything: Australian Designer Trumps Popstar After Long-Running KATY/KATIE PERRY Trade Mark Dispute
8
US Design Patents and ITC Enforcement: Are Design Patents the Most Interesting Intellectual Property Asset in ITC Investigations?
9
Never Get Waived: Federal Court Rules Blanket Moral Rights Waiver Clauses are Not Enforceable in Australia
10
Questions to AI Models May Be Discoverable

The “Showgirl” Showdown: What the Taylor Swift Lawsuit Reveals About Creative Expression, Trademarks, and Commercial Identity

Taylor Swift has long been a household name, but in recent years she has become a commercial powerhouse. It is this commercial power that landed her in hot water with the release of her album ‘The Life of a Showgirl’.

Read More

The UK Sporting Events Bill 2026—A New Playbook for Major Events?

The UK government introduced a new Sporting Events Bill in the House of Lords on 14 May 2026 (the Bill), intending to establish a permanent UK-wide legal framework to streamline delivery of major international sporting tournaments in the United Kingdom (UK).

Read More

Artificial Intelligence and Copyright: Where Does the United Kingdom Stand?

The UK Government’s report on the copyright and AI consultation was recently published. While the report confirms that balancing the interests of copyrights holders and AI developers is a complex exercise, it also provides an indication of likely scenarios to consider in this fast-evolving environment.

Read More

Dividing and Conquering: Best Method Obligations Follow Every Divisional Patent Application

In an important decision, the Full Federal Court in The NOCO Company v Brown and Watson International 1 held that the relevant date for assessing the best method known to the applicants is the filing date of each divisional application. This judgment carries significant implications for patent filing and litigation strategies, as patentees must consider the adequacy of the best method disclosures in existing and future divisional patent specifications.

Read More

USPTO Introduces Patent Owner Pre Order Submission on SNQ in Ex Parte Reexam

In an Official Gazette notice dated 1 April 2026, the USPTO announced a new procedure allowing patent owners to submit a limited “pre order” paper addressing whether a third party ex parte reexamination request raises a Substantial New Question (SNQ) of patentability under 35 U.S.C. § 303(a).

Read More

Fame Isn’t Everything: Australian Designer Trumps Popstar After Long-Running KATY/KATIE PERRY Trade Mark Dispute

The High Court of Australia has handed down its highly anticipated decision in Taylor v Killer Queen LLC [2026] HCA 5 in a narrow 3-2 majority, ending a decade-long trade mark battle between American pop star Katy Perry (born Katheryn Hudson) and Australian fashion designer Katie Taylor (born Katie Perry).

Read More

US Design Patents and ITC Enforcement: Are Design Patents the Most Interesting Intellectual Property Asset in ITC Investigations?

A recent final determination in Investigation No. 337-TA-1400 issued by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) may have some clients saying, “I don’t always seek ITC enforcement. But when I do, I prefer to include a design patent.”  GoPro, Inc. had alleged that Arashi Vision, Inc. d/b/a Insta360 (Insta 360) infringed claims of five different utility patents and one design patent.

Read More

Never Get Waived: Federal Court Rules Blanket Moral Rights Waiver Clauses are Not Enforceable in Australia

The Federal Court of Australia has delivered a landmark decision in McCallum v Projector Films1, finding that general moral rights waivers for copyright works are not enforceable.

Read More

Questions to AI Models May Be Discoverable

On 17 February 2026 in U.S. v. Heppner, 1:25-cr-503 (S.D.N.Y., Feb. 17, 2026), Judge Rakoff held that a defendant’s written exchanges with a public generative AI platform were not protected by the attorney-client privilege or the work product doctrine. The Government had seized approximately thirty-one documents memorializing the defendant’s interactions with the public platform. Defense counsel asserted privilege because the inputs included attorney-learned information, were created to facilitate consultations with counsel, and were later shared with counsel.

Read More

Copyright © 2026, K&L Gates LLP. All Rights Reserved.