AIPPI welcomes its new Bureau
We are pleased to announce the composition of the AIPPI Bureau, which takes office following the 2026 AIPPI World Congress in Hamburg.
China’s 2026 Trademark Law Revision: What to Expect for Motion Mark Examination
China’s Trademark Law was revised in June 2026 (effective 1 January 2027), formally recognising motion marks (referred to in the Chinese text as "dynamic trademarks") as a standalone registrable category and codifying a functionality examination for all non-traditional marks.
China Implements New Measures for Priority Examination of Patents
China’s patent fast lane has been rebuilt. On 28 July 2026, CNIPA Commissioner Shen Changyu signed Order No. 85 promulgating a revised “Measures for the Administration of Priority Examination of Patents”
R&D and IP counselling – Confidentiality and Joint-Development Agreements
Companies engaged in research and development activities frequently collaborate with external partners, including suppliers and consultants who possess specialised expertise and technologies.
Japan Strengthens Plant Variety Protection: The 2026 Amendment to the Seed and Seedling Act – Extending breeders’ rights and closing the pre-registration leakage gap
Japan has long been a source of premium, painstakingly bred agricultural varieties — from the ruby-red strawberry cultivar Beni-hoppe to the seedless grape Shine Muscat, whose export value has been eroded for years by “unauthorized” cultivation abroad after cuttings or seedlings left the country before, or shortly after, variety registration.
Northern Iraq (Kurdistan Of Iraq): The Trademark Registry Reverts To A 15-Year Protection Period
ERBIL – In a significant administrative and legal shift within the Department of Trademark Registration (the Department) in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)