Monday IPDate February 16, 2026

UK landmark ruling reshapes AI patent strategy

The United Kingdom Supreme Court on February 11 issued a landmark judgment in Emotional Perception AI Limited v. Comptroller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, reshaping how the UK handles software and AI patent claims and aligning its approach with European practice. In a unanimous decision, the court rejected the Aerotel test after about 20 years of use and adopted the European Patent Office’s (EPO) “any hardware” approach. It held that a claimed invention has the necessary technical character if it involves physical hardware and clarified that this threshold issue is distinct from later assessments of novelty and inventive step.

> UK landmark ruling reshapes AI patent strategy

INTA Annual Meeting Registration Surpasses 6,000, Attracting Stellar Speaker Roster

The International Trademark Association (INTA) announced that its 148th Annual Meeting, taking place May 2–6, 2026, in London, England, is shaping up to be one of the most dynamic and highly attended gatherings in the Association’s history. Registration has already exceeded 6,000 participants—marking yet another milestone as the event approaches the end of early-bird registration on Friday, February 13, 2026.

> INTA Annual Meeting Registration Surpasses 6,000, Attracting Stellar Speaker Roster