Qatar Expands Trademark Registration to All Classes, Including Class 33
Following the adoption of the 13th Edition of the Nice Classification in February 2026, Qatar's Ministry of Commerce and Industry has clarified that all 45 trademark classes are now open for registration. This update, issued in March 2026, marks an important step in aligning Qatar's trademark system with international standards.
The White House Looks to the Future of Artificial Intelligence in the US
Though AI legislation in the US remains nascent, the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations have all voiced opinions on what the future of AI should look like in the US. The Trump administration's AI-directed communications recently culminated in the release of "A National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence" (the Framework). The Framework is a continuation of the December 2025 Executive Order "Ensuring a National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence" (the Executive Order) and advocates for many of the same priorities. Unlike the Executive Order, however, the Framework includes clear Congressional calls to action, addresses intellectual property rights, and proposes strategies for enabling innovation.
The New EPO Guidelines for Examination and Their Main Implications for Applicants
A new version of the Guidelines for Examination in the European Patent Office (EPO) entered into force on 1 April 2026. Among the changes introduced in this edition, we draw our readers' attention to those with the most significant implications for applicants (and, conversely, for opponents). These implications stem from a closer alignment of the Guidelines—and therefore of expected examination practice—with the case law of the Enlarged Board of Appeal.
Archived Evidence from Wayback Machine and Prior Art Determinations for Printed Publications
In a recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the appellate court affirmed the USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board's final written decision that IPR petitioner Keysight had provided sufficient evidence that Centripetal's patent claims were anticipated under 35 U.S.C. § 102 by a printed publication that was publicly available before the priority date of the patent. The proceedings involved commonly recurring issues relating to proving public accessibility of printed publications, including use of Wayback Machine® to provide time-stamped proof of such public accessibility. Ultimately, the Federal Circuit emphasized that a person of ordinary skill in the art ("POSITA"), with diligent effort, would have found the publicly available prior art reference since the reference was related to technical documentation from vendors in the technical field and was publicly available as supported by the Wayback Machine® archived evidence.
European Patent: Moldova Joins The European Patent Convention (EPC)
As of 1 June 2026, the Republic of Moldova is set to become the 40th contracting state of the European Patent Organisation. This accession follows a long-standing cooperation with the EPO, particularly through the validation agreement in force since 2015, and marks an important step in strengthening European collaboration in the field of patents.
Ex Parte Appeal Statistics
On April 8, 2026 the USPTO published Ex parte appeal statistics from September 30, 2012, through March 31, 2026. Over this time period, total inventory of pending appeals has dropped from 26,570 to 1,866. Critically, for Appellants, this means the pendency of appeals has dropped from an average of over 28 months for the quarter ending in March 2025 to under 8 months for the quarter ending in March 2026.
Mizkan Recognized With The FY2026 "IP Achievement Award"
We offer our congratulations to Mizkan Holdings Co., Ltd. on being honored with the FY2026 "Intellectual Property Achievement Award (Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office Award)," which they received on April 10, 2026, from the Japan Patent Office of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
2026 AIPLA Women in IP Global Networking Event
We are pleased to announce that OBWB's Hangzhou Representative office will host the 2026 AIPLA Women in IP Global Networking Event. We look forward to a special gathering that will bring together accomplished professionals to connect, share insights, and celebrate the innovation and leadership shaping the future of IP.
European Patent Filings Hit Record High, Surpassing 200,000 in 2025
The European Patent Office (EPO) has published its 2025 statistics on European patent applications (including direct and Euro-PCT filings). Applications rose by 1.4% year over year, reaching nearly 202,000.
Bahrain Eases Document Submission Deadlines for Industrial Property Applications
The Bahraini Ministry of Industry and Commerce has implemented temporary measures to address ongoing difficulties in completing notarization and legalization procedures, as well as delays in submitting required documents within statutory deadlines.
