Is there a technology emerging more conspicuously than AI? Probably not. This session explores how AI is impacting patenting and patent litigation considerations worldwide. Understand the evolving challenges these technologies present, how patent enforcement strategies are adapting, and the legal frameworks, including the EU AI Act and DSM Directive, influencing IP management today.

• Discuss the intersection of AI development, patent creation, and prosecution, including implications of the EU AI Act and DSM Directive on IP strategy
• Understand why patent litigation remains the IP function’s primary focus amid AI’s rise, and the evolving landscape of trade secrets, copyright, and trademarks
• Discuss the impact of AI upon drug discovery and the inventorship considerations that companies must understand to make sure their products are litigation-proof

Supplementary Protection Certificates remain a critical and complex aspect of pharmaceutical patent strategy. This session offers a comprehensive review of recent landmark rulings and evolving practices across Europe, providing life sciences patent holders with key insights to refine their SPC approaches in 2025.

• Explore pivotal cases such as Teva/MSD and Halozyme, and their impact on Articles 3(a), 3(c), and 1(b) concerning combination products and active ingredient interpretation.
• Understand how recent UK decisions, including Merck v Comptroller (2025), reflect divergence from broader European SPC practice, and examine emerging trends in antibody SPCs and unitary SPC legal status.
• Examine the expanded SPC Manufacturing Waiver regime since 2022, including conflicting rulings from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands on storage, export, and notification requirements.
• Gain practical guidance on managing waiver-related risks, protecting exclusivity, and navigating cross-jurisdictional challenges in SPC enforcement and litigation.