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The early version of the 13th edition of the Nice Classification (NCL 13-2026) has been published by WIPO. It outlines the changes scheduled to take effect across the various classes of goods and services starting January 1, 2026. These changes should not be taken lightly: they could directly impact filing strategies as well as the protection of already registered trademarks. Established in 1957 under the Nice Agreement, the Nice Classification is an international classification of goods and services for the purposes of trademark registration. It is an essential tool for anyone registering or managing a trademark. In practical terms, this […]

Blockchain is no longer associated solely with cryptocurrencies: it is now making its way into the world of intellectual property. In March 2025, the Judicial Court of Marseille (1st Civil Chamber, March 20, 2025, RG 23/00046, AZ Factory v. Valeria Moda) recognized for the first time that a timestamp recorded on a blockchain could constitute prima facie evidence of the prior existence of a work. In practical terms, it is enough to record the digital fingerprint of a file (text, photo, source code, etc.) on the blockchain to date its existence in a tamper-proof manner. This technology offers a fast […]

Artificial intelligence, now at the center of every discussion, is taking up more and more space in our lives. This technological (r)evolution, both recent and rapid, is already transforming our habits — sometimes serving as a writing and creative tool, sometimes as a personal assistant, sometimes as an all-knowing encyclopedia, and much more. Yet, as often happens, it comes with a darker side. It did not take long for malicious individuals to exploit AI for various scams. One of the most spectacular and worrying uses is the creation of deepfakes (or “hyperfakes,” for those who prefer the French term). This […]

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD) have published the 2024 report on the enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPRs) by European customs authorities, both at the EU’s external borders and within the internal market. The full report is available on the EUIPO website as an interactive infographic, which you can explore [here]. 🔹 Impressive figures In 2024, 112 million counterfeit goods were seized, with an estimated value exceeding €3.8 billion. Three quarters of these seized goods mainly concerned the following categories: CDs/DVDs (including software), toys, clothing and fashion accessories, […]