IP insights: January 2026

Welcome to your round up of the most important news and insights in intellectual property.

In this month's edition...

• The soundtrack to your INTA conference. 
• Should the UK introduce image rights? Faye quoted in WTR.
• Protecting your brand from 'genericide'.
• Weight loss injections: Key lessons for food advertisers.
• In-game gold pieces ruled as property capable of being stolen.
• Court of Appeal says ‘no’ to co-branding but dismisses copyright claim in AGA conversion case.
• Purposive construction showers Schrödinger’s water heater.

Your (unofficial) INTA playlist just dropped

In these dark winter nights* one needs joy. Let us help you with that: London is home to some of the world’s greatest bands and artists. To fire your enthusiasm for INTA 2026 and beautiful summer evenings in London, we have made a playlist featuring some of the best.

One Direction were vetoed. The Pogues reflect the London Irish heritage that has catalogued much of the playlist. Jamiroquai is included because he went to school with Alice’s dad (yes, reader, you are old). Giles has a piano that once belonged to Arthur Sullivan, but comic operas will have to wait for a different playlist. All other comments are welcomed.

*Southern hemisphere readers excepted

Listen now

Can Jeremy Clarkson trademark his face?

With a pending trade mark registration for Jeremy Clarkson’s face, Faye McConnell spoke to WTR about the registrability and enforceability of the mark, and whether this could help in the battle against deepfakes.

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Protecting your brand from 'genericide'

Alice Elliott-Foster reviews the Dryrobe Ltd v Caesr Group Ltd case, which offers invaluable practical take homes for brand owners seeking to protect descriptive or well-known marks from becoming generic.

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Weight loss injections: Key lessons for food advertisers

With an increased use of prescription weight-loss injections, advertising lawyer Katharine Mason reminds food advertisers that referencing conditions considered medicinal or medical in law may result in an advertising breach.

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In-game gold pieces ruled as property capable of being stolen

We analyse the Court of Appeal’s decision which determines that virtual gold pieces in an online role playing game Old School Runescape constitutes “property” for the purposes of the Theft Act 1968.

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Court of Appeal says ‘no’ to co-branding but dismisses copyright claim in AGA conversion case

In AGA Rangemaster v UK Innovations, the Court of Appeal confirmed that AGA Rangemaster’s trade marks had been infringed, but dismissed the copyright infringement claim. Ailsa Carter analyses the judgment.

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Purposive construction showers Schrödinger’s water heater

We analyse the Kohler Mira v Norcros judgment from the Court of Appeal and highlight key lessons in purposive construction for patent drafters and litigators.

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