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The next newsletter will cover the following topics:

AI-driven decisions create measurable business losses

Companies are rapidly integrating AI into enterprise workflows, often treating its outputs as reliable and human-like. However, recent data shows the opposite effect: AI-generated errors are already causing significant economic damage. Estimates suggest that AI hallucinations led to global business losses of over $67 billion, while knowledge workers now spend more than four hours per week verifying AI-generated outputs. The underlying issue is not just technical inaccuracy, but misplaced trust. As AI systems become more fluent and human-like in their responses, users tend to overestimate their reliability — allowing flawed outputs to influence business decisions.

EU targets e-commerce ecosystems to strengthen trademark enforcement

The European Union is introducing new customs reforms aimed at increasing accountability in cross-border e-commerce. In response to the rapid growth of small parcel shipments – often linked to online platforms – the new framework focuses on improving traceability, tightening controls, and assigning clearer responsibility to market participants. The objective is to better detect and prevent the import of counterfeit and non-compliant goods, which have become a systemic challenge in digital trade environments. This development reflects a broader shift: trademark protection is no longer confined to registration and litigation, but increasingly embedded in how digital commerce systems are structured and governed.

Evaluation of sustainability initiatives beyond patent numbers

A current study examined the relevance of patents for the success of companies’ green initiatives. Traditionally, many firms are measuring their innovative capacity primarily by patent numbers, because this is a KPI, which can be easily reported to management. The study, using modern AI-based methods, nevertheless concluded that, in addition to the number of patents, also technology adoption and non-patentable inventions had a significant effect on the success of firm’s initiatives.

Optimization of IP processes with AI

While many people are using “AI” interchangeably with “generative AI”, there are companies out there which are developing very sophisticated AI-based solutions to address the real problems of companies, such as inefficient workflows. Especially in the IP legal sector, where budget cuts and time pressure are on the rise, AI-based tools are adressing the biggest pain points of IP managers and C-suite alike. Nevertheless, the growing availability of those tools may lead to market confusion, harming quick adoption.

OFB Fireside Chats – Licensing beyond deals: where value is really created

In this OFB Fireside Chat, a group of industry IP professionals explored a question that is highly relevant for many organizations today: how can licensing actually create measurable business value?

A key takeaway was that successful licensing does not start with IP – it starts with the business. Licensing only creates value when it is aligned with strategic objectives such as revenue generation, market expansion, or risk management. At the same time, the main bottleneck is rarely technical, but organizational: licensing requires coordination across IP, business units, and management – and without clear ownership, initiatives often stall.

Visible IP Episode #1 Part 2/2: What Strong Positioning Looks Like for IP Experts

This article emphasizes, through insights from Paolo Beconcini, that strong positioning for IP experts is not about broad visibility but about clearly defining a distinct, recognizable niche that clients immediately associate with specific value. Beconcini’s example highlights that credibility comes from consistently communicating expertise in a focused domain, rather than trying to cover multiple areas. This enables clients to understand when and why to engage an expert, reducing ambiguity in the market. Ultimately, effective positioning transforms IP professionals from interchangeable service providers into go-to authorities for well-defined problems, improving both visibility and client conversion.

Brand Protection in the Digital World

This podcast episode explains how intellectual property functions in the digital age, where near-zero-cost copying challenges traditional ideas of exclusivity and control. Digital environments like social media and platforms create new risks, including loss of control, unintended use, and unclear ownership. Enforcement is shifting from courts to platform-based mechanisms such as notice-and-takedown systems, requiring more strategic decision-making. It also highlights considerations like the Streisand effect and when not to enforce rights. Finally, the episode emphasizes the growing importance of intangible assets and the ongoing tension between openness and protection in digital innovation ecosystems.

The UPC Changes the Equation of European Patent Strategy

The UPC fundamentally shifts European patent strategy by enabling centralized enforcement and revocation across multiple countries, increasing both efficiency and risk. Companies must now strategically balance better enforceability against the danger of losing rights across all jurisdictions in one decision.