On 1 June 2026, the Unitary Patent (UP) and the Unified Patent Court (UPC) celebrated their third anniversary. After an initial launch phase followed by a period of procedural consolidation, the system has now reached full operational maturity and has become a key component of patent protection strategies across Europe.
Can a hit song help prove that a trademark is well known in court? In Italy, the answer is yes. A recent decision of the Florence Court offers an interesting insight into how Italian courts assess trademark reputation and the type of evidence that may be relied upon in infringement and unfair competition proceedings.
INTERPATENT wishes to inform its foreign associates that the European Patent Office (EPO) has announced an increase of several official fees relating to the European patent procedure starting from April 1, 2026. The adjustment concerns, inter alia, filing, search, examination and renewal fees. As per established practice, the new fee schedule will apply to payments made on or after the date of entry into force, while fees validly paid before that date will remain subject to the current rates.
In the world of patents, there is an almost religious dogma: absolute novelty. Under this principle, for an invention to be patentable it must never have been made public in any way — whether through a scientific article, a social media post, or even a trade fair — before the patent application filing date.
Every four years, the Olympic Games capture the attention of millions of spectators worldwide. Yet behind the medals and competitions lies another equally strategic arena: the protection of trademarks and intellectual property.
As announced in our November 2025 edition, we remind you that the 13th Edition (Version 2026) of the Nice Classification for trade mark registration came into force on 1 January 2026, introducing significant updates.
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.
