Intellectual Property Archives - Society for Computers & Law

European Commission proposes new European Innovation Act

News • September 10, 2026

The European Commission has proposed a new European Innovation Act, designed to help Europe’s most innovative ideas be developed, financed and scaled up within Europe. The proposal is also intended to support the EU’s long-term competitiveness, prosperity and technological sovereignty. Strengthening the EU innovation ecosystem A key objective of the proposed legislation is to make…

This week’s Techlaw round-up

News • August 28, 2026

Speech by the Master of the Rolls: John Lehane Memorial Lecture In his 2026 John Lehane Memorial Lecture, Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls, argued that the legal profession and judiciary must embrace artificial intelligence to improve efficiency, reduce costs and enhance access to justice, while ensuring that AI-generated work is always subject to…

Charting a New Course for Computer-Implemented Inventions: The Emotional Perception Test Sets Sail at the UKIPO

Analysis, Cases • August 19, 2026

Tom Bridgwater and Melissa Chung look a recent UKIPO decision which point to a new approach to patentability of computer program and presentation of information following the Supreme Court’s decision in Emotional Perception AI …

This week’s Tech-law round-up

News • July 17, 2026

UK law IPO updates guidance on Search and Examination of UK Patent Applications under the Patents Act 1977 The Intellectual Property Office has issued guidance which explains how patent applications should now be examined following the UK Supreme Court’s decision in Emotional Perception AI v Comptroller-General of Patents. The guidance replaces the long-standing Aerotel approach…

Court of Appeal dismisses appeal relating to “used” software licences

Cases • July 16, 2026

The Court of Appeal has issued its ruling in JJH Enterprises Ltd (trading as ValueLicensing) v Microsoft Corp and others [2026] EWCA Civ 872 dismissing Microsoft’s appeal in the long-running dispute with ValueLicensing over the resale of “used” software licences. The underlying proceedings concern alleged breaches of competition law, but the appeal turned on a…

Keeping Ownership Authentic: AI and Control in the Modern Matrix of Music

Analysis • June 9, 2026

Emma Hewins looks at the questions of creativity, authenticity, control and how creators can assert ownership as AI generated music takes hold “Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.”Maya Angelou Maya Angelou’s words still explain why music matters: it is more than entertainment,…

This week’s Tech-law round-up

News • June 5, 2026

UK law High Court considers case where solicitors used misleading AI-generated material in correspondence with court In Cork and another v Smith [2026] EWHC 1199 (Ch), the High Court considered a case involving misleading legal submissions made by the applicants’ former solicitors. The court found that a junior lawyer had relied on generative AI to…

Committee publishes government response to AI and copyright report

News • May 22, 2026

The House of Lords Communications and Digital Select Committee has published the UK government’s response to its ‘AI, copyright and the creative industries’ report. In late 2024, the UK government consulted on copyright and AI. At that stage, the government’s preferred way forward was to enable AI developers to train on copyright works, but to…

This week’s Tech-law round-up

News • May 15, 2026

UK law ICO fines South Staffordshire plc and South Staffordshire Water plc £963,900 following cyberattack and data breach The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined South Staffordshire plc and South Staffordshire Water plc £963,900. This follows a cyberattack and data breach which led to the personal information of 633,887 customers and employees being extracted and published…