Patent Law & Practice at a Glance – June 2026

UKIPO update

UKIPO launches Knowledge Asset Management Hub

The UKIPO has announced a new collection of resources, which it has named the Knowledge Asset Management Hub, intended to help universities and other research institutions with managing IP. It includes guidance on the types of IP and other “knowledge assets” that exist and how to identify, protect and commercialise them.

UKIPO warns about unsolicited payment requests

The UKIPO and Companies House, which maintains the UK’s register of companies, have jointly published a warning to businesses about spurious requests for payment from organisations purporting to offer services relating to company registrations or IP rights. This is a worthwhile reminder that holders of registered IP rights are often targeted by scams of this kind and should query any suspicious requests for payment with their IP advisers.

Monthly filing statistics: patents, trade marks and designs

The latest month’s statistics are now available here.  Statistics for previous months can be found here.

Customer service standards

The latest update on how the UKIPO are doing relative to the customer service targets they have set themselves can be found here.

EPO update

Continuation of proceedings in view of referral G 1/26

Referral G 1/26 seeks to clarify admissibility requirements of referrals as well as several specific aspects of claim interpretation following the recent decision in G 1/24, especially when assessing added subject-matter. To ensure proper functioning of the EPO and for legal certainty, the President of the EPO has decided that proceedings before the examining and opposition divisions should continue (rather than being stayed during the referral).

More details of the referral and this decision available here.

PCT update

The Bahamas joins the PCT

The Bahamas is set to become the 159th Contracting State of the PCT. The country will become bound by the Treaty from 19 August. Click here (page 1) for further details.

European Patent Office enables use of ePCT for electronic notifications

Since 1 June 2026, all users of the EPO have been able to use WIPO’s ePCT online service to receive electronic notifications of PCT communications issued by the EPO. Click here (pages 1 to 2) for further details.

PCT information update: Germany

The German Patent and Trademark Office, in its capacity as receiving Office, has changed the particular instances in which it may require that a separate power of attorney or a copy of a general power of attorney under PCT Rules 90.4(b) and 90.5(a)(ii), respectively, be submitted. For further details, see Official Notices_2026.

Practical advice: using the PCT to seek regional patents

The following question is answered: The ePCT system for filing a PCT application shows some Contracting States as designations for a national patent only, some for a regional patent only, and others for both a national and a regional patent. Could you please explain how this distinction works and why it matters. What are the consequences for obtaining patent protection? The answer is set out here (pages 7 to 8).