Litigation

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ultimate buzzword at the moment. But from a patent-based perspective, it is more than just the new fad: it is a pointer to technological developments and signals what consumers should expect from new products coming to the market in the near future.

For all the patent attorneys out there, it is also an indicator of the technologies we will be expected to deal with and translate into patent documents. So let’s have a look at what has been happening in the past few years.

When it all started

We are proud to share that Inventa has once again been recognised in the 2025 edition of the IAM Patent 1000, a leading guide dedicated to identifying top patent professionals worldwide. In the Prosecution category for Portugal, Inventa was highlighted for its continued excellence and expertise in the field.

Can stripes on a sleeve function as a trademark - or are they just fashion?

Thom Browne’s battle with the EUIPO over its four-stripe motif raises questions about the distinctiveness of position marks. Diogo Antunes examines the EUIPO’s reasoning, legal standards for distinctiveness, and what this means for fashion brands seeking to protect minimalist or unconventional design elements under EU trademark law.

The 2025 edition of The Legal 500: Trademark Disputes Comparative Guide is now available. In this edition, Vitor Palmela Fidalgo provides an updated overview of the intellectual property laws and regulations in Portugal, addressing key elements of the national legal framework such as opposition, cancellation, and enforcement procedures.

During the interview, Angela highlighted the music industry and emphasized the importance of artists actively safeguarding their creative works and legal rights.

Access the full interview here.

In a recent interview with FICPI for World IP Day 2025, Joana Fialho Pinto, Trademark and Patent Attorney at Inventa, shared how she combines her legal expertise with her passion for music. 

Joana highlights the importance of trademark law in the music industry, examines the impact of AI on creativity, and emphasizes how intellectual property fosters both artistic expression and commercial success in today’s rapidly evolving landscape.

In this latest edition, Inventa contributes an in-depth analysis of Portugal’s trademark framework, covering key aspects such as requirements, procedural timelines, opposition mechanisms, and the interplay with related rights.

On April 8, the first in-person meeting of the Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre (PMAC) of the Unified Patent Court was held in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Vítor Palmela Fidalgo, Legal Director at Inventa and the Portugal’s representative of the Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre (PMAC) Committee, attended the session, contributing to ongoing efforts to structure the Court’s Mediation and Arbitration Center and to define specific topics essential to the development of PMAC’s operations.

Sounds transcend languages, facilitating emotion and engagement without barriers. Marketers and advertisers understand and leverage this power in promoting goods and services. However, only sounds that fulfil the essential distinctive function can be registered as trademarks.

Investing in sound

The working group conducted a survey directed to brand owners to assess industry attitudes towards counterfeit destruction, focusing on the concerns a