The European Patent Office (EPO) and Laos have taken a major step toward strengthening international patent protection with the enforcement of their validation agreement on April 1, 2025. This milestone allows applicants to validate their European patents in Laos, granting them the same legal rights as patents issued by the EPO. By simplifying the patent process, this agreement fosters innovation, strengthens legal certainty, and enhances investment opportunities in Laos.
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European patent validation is an important step, although not necessarily the only one. Without proper validation, a patent has no legal force in any country.
As patent holders, therefore, it must be decided where and how to enforce rights. Choosing the inappropriate strategy, however, can lead to unnecessary costs or weak protection.
This article looks at the major enforcement options and helps to identify the most effective approach to protecting innovation in Europe.
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Securing a trademark in the European Union is crucial for protecting a business's identity. However, the trademark registration process may not be risk-free. Many applicants make critical mistakes that can result in avoidable costs, litigation or even loss of rights.
In this article, we highlight the most common intellectual property (IP) mistakes made with EU trademarks and provide guidance on how to avoid them.
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On December 13, 2024, the European Patent Office (EPO) and Costa Rica's Ministry of Justice and Peace signed a landmark validation agreement, making Costa Rica the first country in the Americas to join the EPO's validation system.
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The European Patent Office (EPO) has announced that Romania will join to the Unitary Patent system on 1 September 2024. This will bring the total number of EU Member States participating in the Unitary Patent system to 18.
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In the pulsating world of football, where the roar of the crowd meets the finesse of the game, rivalries extend beyond the pitch into realms of business and branding. In this article, we delve into the trademark perspectives of two football giants: Liverpool and Manchester City.
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The European Patent Office (EPO) has announced an impending adjustment to its fee schedule, set to take effect on April 1st, 2024. This decision to increase fees may impact applicants and patent holders engaging with the EPO. For some of the fees the increase is up to 30%.
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The European Patent Office (EPO) has announced that Georgia to be included in a European patent (EP) application as a Validation State.
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