Month: April 2026
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China announces first-ever patent pool: solar panel entities join forces
China’s first-ever patent pool has officially launched, under the guidance of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), established by solar panel manufacturers Trina Solar, JA Solar, and JinkoSolar. The pool focuses on TOPCon cell and module technologies in mainland China.
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UPC Roundup (1 week): Hague LD introduces two-step evidence access; PI denied in 3D printing case; FRAND bank guarantee vs. security
This is a summary of developments in and around the Unified Patent Court (UPC) in the calendar week of April 20, 2026. Like the previous one, it is a relatively long UPC Roundup.
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Will UK Supreme Court go from Unwired to Unhinged? Radical judicial imperialists form majority of panel in Tesla v. InterDigital & Avanci
The deck appears stacked against reasonableness, but hopefully the outcome will be better than the historic positions of the panel majority suggest. Otherwise the UK will come under a lot more pressure than it can sustain.
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It’s official: treble damages, other goodies available in Munich patent cases; still no Texas-size awards, but nothing to sneeze at either
Treble damages in Munich? German patent damages law offers greater opportunities than most patent holders would think. A new landmark ruling draws a roadmap to reasonably sizable damages awards with surmountable evidentiary hurdles.
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Judge Gilstrap finds Verizon reasonably expected not to get sued by Headwater (in which it invested), tosses $175M jury verdict
Judge Gilstrap’s passion for patent law is evidenced by how he uses “to teach away” in a context in which it is highly uncommon terminology.
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CureVac sues Moderna in Delaware over Spikevax patents, seeking treble damages but no injunction
CureVac sues Moderna for treble damages but not an injunction over 10 patents related to Spikevax. The case adds to broader post-COVID mRNA patent battles.
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Disney faces clear and present danger of UPC 11-country HEVC patent injunction in InterDigital case after May 5 & 6 hearing: court document
The UPC Mannheim LD appears unconvinced of Disney’s technical defenses, and even if the court deemed Disney entitled to a FRAND license, an injunction would probably issue.
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IP Bridge’s Geely injunction stayed in Brazil; GWM proceedings show ongoing enforcement
Preliminary injunction-related developments in Brazil’s SEP disputes have been prematurely characterized as a shift against strong enforcement. A temporary appellate measure is not a final reversal, and parallel proceedings against GWM are ongoing.
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ECJ Advocate General says excipient label is binding for SPC purposes: Halozyme v. Czech IPO
AG Emiliou says a substance in a MA that is called an excipient may not be considered an active ingredient for SPC purposes, which would invalidate grants in eight EU member states.
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UPC CD Paris says expired BASF patent still open to attack, makes own determination of technical problem
The UPC’s CD Paris dismissed Huntsman’s revocation action against BASF’s expired EP1516720, confirming that expired patents may still be challenged where past-damage exposure remains live.