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Starting today, the European Patent Office (EPO) is testing a new way to make the patent process quicker and more eco-friendly. Instead of sending paper documents, the EPO will now let users request and receive priority documents—a key part of the patent process—electronically. This change is part of the EPO’s bigger plan to go fully digital, making things easier for inventors and businesses while reducing waste.

Birkenstock sandals—the comfy, chunky shoes loved by hippies, fashionistas, and even Barbie—just lost a major legal battle. Germany’s top court ruled that Birkenstocks aren’t art, meaning they can’t be protected by copyright. This decision lets competitors like Tchibo sell similar styles, and it’s sparking big questions about how brands can protect their designs. Let’s break it down.

Imagine spending months, even years, perfecting a unique design, only to have a billion-dollar corporation copy it and threaten to sue you for speaking up. This is exactly what happened to Cassey, the creator of the patented Pirouette Skort, when Nordstrom—a retail giant—allegedly stole her design and sold it as their own. Her story is a stark reminder of how intellectual property (IP) theft can impact small businesses and independent creators. But it also highlights the importance of protecting your work with a patent. Let’s break it down.

Imagine spending months writing a song, snapping the perfect photo, or crafting a bestselling novel—only to find out an AI company has used your work to train its algorithms without your permission. This is the reality facing UK creators as the government proposes a controversial plan to let AI firms use copyrighted material unless creators actively opt-out. Unsurprisingly, artists, writers, musicians, and publishers are pushing back hard.