Enforcement

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

The Copyright Amendment Bill (CAB) in South Africa has been one of the most debated legislative proposals in recent years, aiming to modernise the country’s copyright framework.

As of 2024, the bill is among 20 pieces of legislation awaiting President Cyril Ramaphosa’s signature, but its enactment has been delayed due to concerns over its constitutionality. The bill has been referred to the Constitutional Court for review, a decision that will significantly impact South Africa’s creative and intellectual property landscape.

Africa is beginning to make its mark in the international space sector, driven by growing investment and innovation. The 2025 inauguration of the African Space Agency represents a key milestone in this expansion.

The Global Innovation Index 2024, launched by WIPO includes a new indicator that compares an economy's level of development with the impact of its social enterprises, recognizing these ventures for their ability to drive transformative innovation across sectors. These enterprises, often overlooked in traditional models, are contributing significantly to GDP and societal progress by addressing global challenges through innovative solutions.

The 2024 edition of The Legal 500: Intellectual Property Comparative Guide is now available, featuring insights from Vítor Palmela Fidalgo and João Pereira Cabral on Intellectual Property laws and regulations in Portugal.

This comparative guide delivers an up-to-date overview of intellectual property law and practice across numerous jurisdictions.

For more details, explore the Portugal chapter in the 2024 Legal 500: Intellectual Property Comparative Guide here.

Financial technology (fintech) encompasses many innovations, including mobile payment platforms, blockchain-based solutions, algorithmic trading systems, and peer-to-peer lending platforms, among others.

The protection of fintech innovations is critically dependent on a robust framework of intellectual property (IP) rights. These include patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets, all of which are instrumental in safeguarding unique technologies, business practices, and brand identities essential for progress.

There are several factors that may be considered when assessing the likelihood of confusion in an opposition proceeding before the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). One of them is the existence of a family or series of marks. This article aims to shed some light on this factor which is possibly one of the least known and used by opponents.