Saudi Arabia to Join the Madrid Protocol on October 8, 2026
Saudi Arabia's accession to the Madrid Protocol marks a major milestone in the evolution of the Kingdom's intellectual property framework. Effective October 8, 2026, brand owners will be able to extend trademark protection to Saudi Arabia through the Madrid System, while Saudi-based businesses will gain streamlined access to international trademark protection across a broad network of member jurisdictions.
Did I Write That? Enanta and the Written Description Requirement
The recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Pfizer Inc., demonstrates the importance of fully complying with the written description requirement for patent applications and correctly capturing each aspect of an invention in an initial disclosure. A patent application lacking critical details of an invention may suffer a variety of consequences including loss of priority date and, consequently, invalidation of the granted patent in litigation.
SEP: New EPO Observatory Study Provides Greater Clarity on Determination of FRAND Licensing Rates
During the Euractiv event held on June 24th, 2026, key findings on the study "Methodologies for FRAND determination: evidence from global case law," were discussed. The study is a result of a survey of court cases around the world involving the determination and assessment of Fair, Reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms and conditions for the licensing of standard essential patents (SEPs). The survey was conducted by the EPO Observatory, a department of the EPO that analyzes market data in relation to patents, in collaboration with the consulting firm BRELA.
European Inventor Award 2026: Innovation Driving a Sustainable Future
The European Patent Office (EPO) honored inventors whose innovations are transforming key sectors—including food chemistry, energy, biotechnology, and eco-technologies—at a ceremony in Berlin.
Trademark Protection Extended to 15 Years in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
The Trademark Office in the Kurdistan region of Iraq is now granting 15 years of trademark protection, replacing the previously applied 10-year term.
EPO-CNIPA to Launch New PPH Pilot
On August 1, 2026, the European Patent Office (EPO) and the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) will launch a new bilateral Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot programme.
RAISE Summit 2026
Paris, France: With the 2026 RAISE Summit taking place just steps from our Paris office, OBWB is collaborating with Yorkseed House to host a series of events at our office throughout the week.
Key Changes to French IP Procedures in 2026
A decree published on July 2, 2026, introduces a range of measures aimed at simplifying and modernizing industrial property procedures in France. Read more to find a summary of key changes.
Algeria Adopts the Hague Apostille Convention
Algeria has officially acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention (the 1961 Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents).
Bahrain Joins the Locarno Agreement
Bahrain has approved its accession to the Locarno Agreement through Law No. 21 of 2026. The treaty provides a globally recognized classification system for industrial designs...
