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Designs
EU Design Reform Phase II: What changes on 1 July 2026 — and how to prepare
Phase II of the EU Design Reform introduces substantial procedural changes. While Phase I (May 2025) updated substantive law, Phase II puts those reforms into practice. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/138 and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/137 both enter into force on 1 July 2026, giving the EUIPO the blueprint it needs to operate the modernized system. Here is what changes, and what it means for both applicants and professionals.
Saar Alon
Apr 183 min read
What Does the Recent USPTO Design Patent Guidelines for GUI and Icon Designs mean? - The Bottom Line
On March 13, 2026, the USPTO has released an updated supplemental guidelines modernizing design patent protection for design patent applications directed to computer-generated interfaces (e.g. GUIs) and digital icons. The 2026 guidance effectively reverses this course with three key changes:
Saar Alon
Apr 152 min read
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