News & Reports
The Rubik’s Cube as a Work Protected by Copyright?
Copyright can offer a useful compromise for trying to overcome the time limits inherent in the finite duration of patent protection and utility models, where it is not possible to obtain the protection afforded by trademarks.
New Court Frameworks for SEP Disputes in Japan
In January 2026, the Intellectual Property Divisions of the Tokyo District Court (Civil Divisions 29, 40, 46, and 47) published two procedural documents concerning disputes involving standard essential patents (SEPs):
Kazakhstan Adopts its First AI Law
On 29 October 2025, Kazakhstan’s Parliament adopted the country’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Law, which comes into effect on 18 January 2026. This landmark legislation aims to balance technological innovation with ethical standards and intellectual property rights.
Kazakhstan Updates Official IP Fees
Effective 1 January 2026, Kazakhstan’s National Institute of Intellectual Property (Qazpatent) implemented moderate fee increases across IP services and added new official fees for certain trade mark-related procedures.
The Establishment of the Administrative Court in Kosovo: Implications for IP Right Holders
On 6 February 2026, the Law No. 08/L-291 on the Administrative Court (hereinafter: “the Law”) enters into force in Kosovo, marking an important development in the country’s judicial framework and administrative justice system.
New Consumer-Facing Language Rules (1 March 2026) and the Role of Trade Marks
From 1 March 2026, Russia introduced a clearer statutory regime for foreign-language wording used “in front of consumers” outside advertising.