Insights
Don’t Leave Your Exit to Chance: Why IP Strategy is the Foundation of the “End Game”
By Emily Chamberlain, Niklas Mattsson | Posted on May 18, 2026
What separates a successful life science exit from a missed opportunity? Often, it isn’t just the quality of the science, but the timing and precision of the IP strategy. At the recent “The End Game” event, hosted by Ventures Accelerated in Stockholm, AWA’s Niklas Mattsson and a panel of international investors, including Josefine Persson (HealthCap),...
CNIPA’s Enhanced Administration on Trademark Use
By Ai-Leen Lim, Julia Wang | Posted on March 30, 2026
Since 2025, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) has intensified trademark use regulation via new guidance and enforcement mechanisms, notably issuing the Notice on Strengthened Management of Trademark Use (the “Notice”) on November 21, 2025, followed by its Interpretation of the Notice (the ‘Interpretation’) on December 30, 2025, which serve as binding enforcement directives...
Why the beauty industry cannot underestimate Freedom to Operate analysis
By Ylva Strandberg | Posted on March 16, 2026
The beauty industry faces fierce competition from new brands and fast product cycles, yet continues to grow, with projections reaching $580 billion by 2027 (McKinsey and Company). In this environment, Freedom to Operate (FTO) analysis ensures new products or branding can be launched without infringing on others’ intellectual property. Having a true understanding of the...
Everything you need to know about China’s Patent Term Extension (PTE)
By Hongyue Li | Posted on March 10, 2026
The pharmaceutical field is one that relies most heavily on patent protection. The development of new drugs involves high costs, long cycles, and significant risks. Without patent protection, new drug R&D enterprises would find it difficult to recoup R&D costs and earn reasonable profits, thereby reducing their incentive to develop new drugs. Meanwhile, due to...
How to use intellectual property to protect plants
By Isa Böttiger, Ylva Wikmark | Posted on March 4, 2026
When most people think about intellectual property in the plant sector, they think about patents. But for plant breeders, seed producers, and agri-tech innovators, the reality is both more nuanced and more interesting. Plant innovations can benefit from overlapping IP protection strategies — a web of different rights that, when used together, can deliver far...
Why the fifth major revision to China’s Trademark Law requires a strategy shift for brand owners
By Ashley Zhao | Posted on February 4, 2026
On December 22, 2025, the Draft Amendment to the Trademark Law of the People’s Republic of China was submitted to the 19th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress for deliberation for the first time. As the fifth major revision since the Trademark Law came into force in 1983, this amendment...
Het belang van heldere definities van alle octrooitermen en sterke terugvalposities (Toepassing van Besluit G1/24)
By Alexandre Theodorou | Posted on February 4, 2026
Onlangs, op 11 december 2025, heeft de Kamer van Beroep die de zaak behandelde die leidde tot Besluit G1/24, het betreffende octrooi ingetrokken. Het betwiste octrooi (EP3076804) Het betreffende octrooi betrof “een verwarmd aerosolgenererend artikel voor gebruik met een elektrisch aangedreven aerosolgenererend apparaat omvattende een verwarmingselement” (met andere woorden, een e-sigaret-navulling…). De hoofdconclusie van dit...
De l’importance de bien définir chaque terme dans un brevet et d’avoir de bonnes positions de repli (Application de la décision G1/24)
By Alexandre Theodorou | Posted on February 4, 2026
Récemment, le 11 décembre 2025, la chambre de recours en charge de l’affaire ayant conduit à la décision G1/24 a révoqué le brevet en cause. Le brevet contesté (EP3076804) Le brevet en cause concernait « un article de génération d’aérosol chauffé destiné à être utilisé avec un dispositif de génération d’aérosol à fonctionnement électrique comprenant un...
Why is it important to clearly define each term in a patent and have good fallback positions (Application of the Decision G1/24)
By Alexandre Theodorou | Posted on February 4, 2026
On December 11, 2025, the Board of Appeal handling the case that led to Decision G1/24 revoked the patent in question. The Contested Patent (EP3076804) The patent was related to “a heated aerosol-generating article for use with an electrically operated aerosol-generating device comprising a heating element” (essentially, an e-cigarette refill). The main claim as granted...
Recent Developments in the Patent Prosecution Highway
By Troels Peter Rørdam | Posted on January 23, 2026
The Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) network continues to expand, and we at AWA remain one step ahead by closely monitoring the new expansions and emerging opportunities. Recently, European patent applicants have been presented with new opportunities to expedite and simplify examination of their patent applications. This opportunity adds to the EPO’s existing 18 agreements with...
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