​Now in its fourth year, CodeFest challenged developers, data scientists and innovators from across EPO member states to create tools that help businesses better understand the value of their patents. The goal: make it easier for startups, investors and companies to identify promising inventions, attract funding and make smarter business decisions.

The legal dispute between Moderna, BioNTech and Pfizer has taken a new turn. Following Moderna's recent successes at the national courts in Düsseldorf and London, the EPO Boards of Appeal have completely revoked the key patent at the heart of the dispute.

The EUIPO has just published a landmark report, IP‑backed finance in Europe: state of play and future perspectives, examining why so many European companies struggle to turn their IP into the funding they need to grow. The findings point to a critical missing link: finance.

"AI in het octrooirecht heeft zich ontwikkeld van experimenteren naar regulering en gestructureerd professioneel gebruik. In 2026 moeten octrooigemachtigden die generatieve AI gebruiken niet alleen rekening houden met nauwkeurigheid, vertrouwelijkheid en professionele verantwoordelijkheid, maar ook met de vereisten van de EU AI Act, waaronder AI-geletterdheid, transparantie en passende AI-governance."

Supporting the patent grant process through a human-centric approach. As part of its digital transformation, the EPO is integrating AI solutions throughout the patent grant process to support staff, improve efficiency and maintain the high-quality standards expected by applicants and stakeholders worldwide. The foundations of AI use at the EPO were established in the areas of pre-search, classification and file allocation. AI systems help route incoming applications, support the classification of patent documents and facilitate the identification of relevant prior art, enabling examiners to navigate an ever-growing volume of technical information more efficiently. These capabilities have become an integral part of the search process and contribute to both consistency and productivity.

Nature reveals the studies that are mentioned most often in patent filings — and why.

The current IP framework remains fundamentally human-centered. While AI may assist in creating inventions and content, legal ownership generally depends on identifiable human contributions. Organizations that clearly document those contributions and align their IP strategies with existing legal requirements will be best positioned to protect and commercialize AI-assisted innovations.