IP insights: July 2025

31 July 2025

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

In this month's edition:

INTA London 2026: Our hotel guide.
Giles featured in the Guardian: Anthropics AI case in the US.
Browne Jacobson points to IP wins after ‘record’ turnover.
A missed opportunity? Supreme Court knocks back Aldi’s Thatchers appeal.
Supreme Court clarifies trade mark post-sale confusion (Iconix v Dream Pairs).
UK court rejects replay of RCD dispute post-Brexit.
Clarity and precision requirements for visual and verbal descriptions of trade marks (Babek v Iceland).

INTA London 2026: Our hotel guide

INTA’s coming to London! Have you booked your hotel yet? Our dedicated IP team has spent years painfully sampling cocktail bars, jazz bars and assessing London’s best culinary offering…

Situated in London’s vibrant east end, Shoreditch is renowned for its eclectic nightlife, vast selection of bars and pubs (whatever your tipple may be), and independent food and shopping scene. Shoreditch is one of INTA’s three hubs (Tuesday 5 May) and just a short hop to the convention centre (30 minutes by public transport).

Make sure your subscribed to our IP Insights newsletter and are eagerly checking our website for our bi-monthly London and Shoreditch guides. Up first… hotels.

Our top picks for Shoreditch hotels are:

Redchurch Townhouse: A chic boutique hotel offering stylish rooms and access to a members' club in the heart of Shoreditch.
Nobu Hotel Shoreditch: A luxury hotel that blends the raw creative energy of Shoreditch with Nobu’s value of simple luxury.
100 Shoreditch: Located in the vibrant heart of East London, it offers modern rooms and a rooftop bar with panoramic views.
CitizenM London Shoreditch: A trendy hotel known for its affordable luxury, contemporary design, and central location in the tech hub of London.
The Hoxton, Shoreditch: A pioneering hotel, setting the tone for urban chic with a lively bar, comfortable rooms, and a cool aesthetic.
Virgin Hotels London: A new addition to London's hotel scene, promising energetic vibes and innovative design in tune with Virgin's brand ethos.

Getting around London from Shoreditch

Should you be venturing elsewhere - Shoreditch is easily accessible via major transport links, making it convenient for those travelling both locally and internationally. Key transport hubs include Old Street Station, which offers services on the Northern Line, and Shoreditch High Street Station on the London Overground.

Additionally, Liverpool Street, a major railway terminus and the connected London Underground station, is just a short distance away, providing further access to the Central, Metropolitan, Circle, and Hammersmith & City lines, as well as national and international train services. Heathrow airport is also just a 50 minute journey away.

Giles featured in the Guardian: Anthropics AI case in the US

A US court ruled that Anthropic did not breach copyright when training AI on books without permission. Giles discusses the judge’s ruling and what this means for the UK.

Browne Jacobson points to IP wins after ‘record’ turnover

Major IP developments included advising on a ‘landmark’ deal involving green hydrogen production, as well as two major acquisitions.

Supreme Court clarifies trade mark post-sale confusion (Iconix v Dream Pairs)

In this important decision involving the well-known Umbro trade mark often seen adorning football boots, the Supreme Court clarified the relevance of post-sale confusion to trade mark infringement.

Nick Smee summarises the findings.

A missed opportunity? Supreme Court knocks back Aldi’s Thatchers appeal

Brand owners may rejoice following the UK’s highest court’s refusal to take up the discounter’s appeal—but does this leave critical questions unresolved? Giles Parsons discusses the refusal in a recent article with WIPR.

UK court rejects replay of RCD dispute post-Brexit

The Court of Appeal has refused to reopen design disputes post-Brexit, blocking a challenge to a UK ‘cloned’ mark based on an earlier EU decision. Giles Parsons speaks to WIPR about the decision.

Clarity and precision requirements for visual and verbal descriptions of trade marks (Babek v Iceland)

IPEC recently addressed the clarity and precision requirements for visual and verbal descriptions of trade marks, ultimately upholding the validity of Babek’s trade mark against Iceland Foods Limited’s invalidity challenge. Mark Daniels and Nirmal Trivedy wrote about the decision in their recent article for LexisNexis.