The PACE (Programme for Accelerated Prosecution of European Patent Applications) is a programme offered by the European Patent Office (EPO) designed to accelerate the prosecution of a European patent application, thereby enabling patent grant to be obtained within a shorter timeframe.
After more than a year of extensive negotiations, at the end of 2025, the Italian Government approved the interministerial decree — signed by the Ministry of Economy (MEF) and the Ministry of Agriculture (MASAF) — authorizing the production and sale of dealcoholized and low-alcohol wines in Italy. The decree establishes the regulatory framework, excise duties, and production requirements, bringing the country in line with EU legislation.
Starting from 2 February 2026 through 4 December 2026, the SME Fund will reopen, allowing small and medium-sized enterprises to apply for vouchers that provide partial reimbursement of costs incurred for the protection of intellectual property rights.
It is often said that unity is strength. In the world of innovation, this is almost a rule: collaborations between companies, technological joint ventures, and research projects between universities and private entities are important drivers of progress.
On 4 December 2025, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) delivered its judgment in the joined cases C-580/23 (Mio) and C-795/23 (Konektra), clarifying key principles governing the copyright protection of works of applied art, including functional and industrial design products.
UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has officially included Italian cuisine in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Meeting in New Delhi, the Intergovernmental Committee approved the inscription of the nomination entitled “Italian cuisine between sustainability and bio-cultural diversity”.
Italy has entered the world’s Top 25 for property rights protection for the first time, according to the 2025 report of the International Property Rights Index (IPRI). With a 16% increase compared to the previous year, the country has risen from 36th to 25th place, after a long period of stability in 46th position.
The 13th edition of the Nice International Classification of Goods and Services will come into force on 1 January 2026. The main changes include updating the terms for products and services, particularly those related to digital technology such as NFTs and metaverses, and adjusting other categories.
The Italian Council of Ministers has approved, on a preliminary basis, a draft legislative decree implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 on Geographical Indications (GIs) for craft and industrial products, which will become protectable as of 1 December 2025.
The plant-based food market has seen significant growth recently. From «veggie burgers» to «tofu sausages,» a growing number of consumers are opting for these products for ethical, health, and environmental reasons.
As announced by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), the SME Fund 2025 – a programme designed to support European and Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – has reopened access to Vouchers 2 and 3.
The surname “Lamborghini” is known to the Italian public mainly for its association with the family of Ferruccio Lamborghini, the Italian entrepreneur who founded, in 1963, the famous car manufacturer company Automobili Lamborghini SpA.
Manuela Bruscolini of our Firm, Member of the MARQUES International Trade Mark Law and Practice Team, participated as representative of MARQUES, the famous international association representing the brand owner interests
As a result of Montenegro’s accession to the London Agreement on 1 August 2025, for European patents granted on or after said date and to be validated in said country, a Montenegrin language translation of the entire patent text is no longer required, provided that the EP specification is in English, but only a Montenegrin language translation of the claims will have to be provided.
A sumptuous award ceremony took place last week 23 September in Copenhagen, in partnership with the Danish Patent and Trademark Office, for the sixth edition of the DesignEuropa Awards 2025, the well-known competition, organised by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), that celebrates excellence in design among holders of Registered European Union Designs.
