The IPKat

The IPKat has received and is pleased to host the review of Criminal Intellectual Property Enforcement in Asia: Sources, Significance and Side-Effects edited by Kung-Chung Liu and Tianxiang He. This book review has been prepared by Katfriend Niharika Salar (PhD candidate, Queen's University Belfast). Here is what Niharika writes:The book is available in hardback and ebook"T...

The Australian IP Report 2026 is the latest in a series of annual reports issued by IP Australia, setting out the latest statistics and research on the use of IP rights in Australia. This year's Report, a reflection on 2025 trends, showed that while patent filing volumes remain stable, trade mark and design filings increased markedly. This article takes a closer look at the pate...

We now have confirmation of a new referral to the EBA on claim interpretation (G1/26). As previously hinted, The Board of Appeal in T 0873/24 has decided to refer questions on the application of G1/24 to the assessment of added matter. Following the decision of the EBA that the description should always be “consulted” for claim interpretation, the Boards of Appeal have struggled...

When the Kat model runs locallyPhoto by Rita Daisy on UnsplashQuietly, we are witnessing a new phase of artificial intelligence (AI) user-generated content (UGC). Users no longer need to access AI models through cloud services like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Stability AI; instead, they can run open source models locally on their own devices. This story has developed dramati...

Can the addition of a heel strap to a clog design be enough to produce a different overall impression on the informed user when that strap belongs to one of the most recognisable shoes in the world? The General Court's judgment in Crocs v EUIPO - Gor Factory (Chaussure) (T-228/25) sheds light on this question.  BackgroundCrocs, Inc. owns the following EU design registered o...