IP in the news

English author Virginia Woolf famously stated: ‘One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.’

Approximately 86 million fake items were detained in the European Union in 2021, an increase of almost 31 % compared to 2020, according to a joint report by the EUIPO and the European Commission. However, the estimated value of fake items detained in the EU amounted to over EUR 1.9 billion, a decrease of circa 3 % in 2021 compared to 2020.

Given a choice of three words (or phrases/hashtags – “word” is defined fairly loosely), narrowed down by lexicographers from the Oxford University Press, more than 340,000 English speakers around the world cast their vote.

Every year, Pantone announces its color for the new year, which hopes to inspire creators across all fields. Now, the intense and eye-catching Viva Magenta 18-1750 has been named as the Color of the Year 2023, evoking feelings of celebration and possibility after a few rough years. This shade, which has its origins in a natural red dye, signals the world of design is ready to come back roaring, especially in the digital realm.

Who says we have to choose between driving to work or riding a bike? The idea of an electric vehicle that would bridge the gap between the two is not new; in fact, it goes farther back than the rise of electric vehicles to prominence. Whether called a carcycle, a car-bike, or car-ebike, this vehicle is best described as the illegitimate child between a small passenger car and an electric bicycle.

Bees are the most important pollinators in the insect world and play a central role in ensuring the global food supply. Without pollination, many plants cannot reproduce. Saar Safra, CEO of Israeli start-up Beewise, is on a mission to save bees − and at scale − using artificial intelligence (AI), computer vision and robotics. Mr. Safra explains how Beewise’s high-tech solution is helping to save the world’s bees.

The Commission approved a new geographical indication from Finland: ‘Aito saunapalvikinkku'/‘Äkta basturökt skinka', a meat product made from whole-muscle ham. The product is smoked on alder wood using a direct smoking method in a smoke sauna. This specific process is strongly rooted in Finnish sauna culture, which underpins the distinction from other countries and their smoked products. ‘Aito saunapalvikinkku'/‘Äkta basturökt skinka' has a fairly dry surface, but a succulent texture.

There’s rumoured LEGO Art set coming in 2023 of The Great Wave off Kanagawa, but it’s not the first time it’s been done. The Great Wave off Kanagawa, created as a woodblock print in 1831 by the artist Hokusai is one of the most famous pieces of Japanese art. The rumour mill suggests that, in the footsteps of the Ideas set, 21333 Vincent van Gogh – The Starry Night, The Great Wave will also be replicated as a LEGO set. This time, however, it’s likely to be as part of the Art theme, rather than Ideas.

European IP Helpdesk “IP Specials” are thematic packages consisting of different media formats such as animated clips, interviews, articles, or infographics that take a closer look at a specific intellectual property (IP) topic.