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May 2026

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Multimedia content brought to you by Managing IP, the leading intellectual property publication.

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May 29, 2026Episode 3614 min

The IP Lounge: What to know ahead of IP STARS rankings changes

Chris Adams, Managing IP’s research lead, joins us to explain what practitioners need to know ahead of our first rankings release of 2026.In this episode, we are joined by Chris Adams, research lead at Managing IP, who talks us through the changes to our 2026 rankings releases.Starting next week, we will release four batches of jurisdiction-specific rankings, each covering specific practice areas, as well as firm reviews and client testimonials.Our first release, covering Asia-Pacific, is scheduled for June 4.Rather than launching separate rankings for different practice areas with multijurisdictional inclusion, practice area rankings will instead be included in four separate jurisdiction-based updates.The timeline for releases is as follows:Asia-Pacific: June 4Western Europe: June 25CEE Middle East and Africa: July 16Americas: July 30Adams explains why IP STARS decided to make the change and how the new format will help firms plan their communications and marketing material around the rankings.IP STARS rankings for corporate stars and the Top 250 Women in IP will be published separately.

April 21, 2026Episode 3524 min

The IP Lounge: USPTO's first woman director on breaking barriers

Michelle Lee discusses reaching milestones at the USPTO, AI’s role in legal work, and empowering women in tech and IP law.In this episode, we are joined by Michelle Lee, the former undersecretary of commerce for IP and director of USPTO, and the founder and CEO of Obsidian Strategies.Lee sat down with Managing IP’s senior reporter, Sanjana Mishra, to talk through her career.She reveals that her career was inspired by her childhood, noting that the fathers in her community had technical backgrounds and often experimented with innovation.Her love for creation and technology kick-started her journey in patent law and eventually led to her becoming the first woman director of the USPTO.Lee says her USPTO achievement fuels her passion to uplift women in tech and IP law. She emphasises the importance of creating more opportunities for inventors across all races, genders, and ages.We also discuss Lee’s current role as the CEO of Obsidian, which specialises in guiding companies through AI transformation, risk management, and executive training, and her partnership with the youth organisation Girl Scouts.

March 31, 2026Episode 3440 min

The IP Lounge: Recognising 30 years of the EUTM

João Negrão, EUIPO executive director, is joined by a seasoned official to reflect on three decades of stories. On April 1, the EUIPO will celebrate 30 years since EU trademarks first became available to register.Although the 1994 EU Trade Mark Regulation formally established the EUTM – originally called the community trademark – it was not until April 1 1996, that the new IP right became available to applicants.The milestone marked the introduction of the EUTM system, which has significantly simplified trademark protection across Europe.To mark this anniversary, our latest podcast welcomes two EUIPO stalwarts – João Negrão, the EUIPO’s executive director, and Jacqueline Winkelmolen, a team leader who has been in Alicante since that first day in 1996.Winkelmolen recalls those early days, including dealing with paper-based applications, and assesses whether the demand for EUTMs exceeded predictions. Negrão considers how the office has developed in the years since, taking on competencies for designs and geographical indications.

February 26, 2026Episode 3336 min

The IP Lounge: CIPA 2026 president outlines UPC hopes

Simon Wright explains why the UK should embrace the possibility of rejoining the UPC, and reveals how CIPA is reacting to this month’s historic Emotional Perception AI case at the UK Supreme Court. In the latest episode, we are joined by Simon Wright, the 2026 president of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys.Wright, who became president in January, shares what he has been up to in his first two months and outlines his priorities for the year.Chief on his agenda is maximising UK attorneys’ use of the Unified Patent Court. The UK, he argues, should explore whether there is an appetite for rejoining the system. He says CIPA is well placed to help in this regard. We explore how he became involved with the association and other main themes for 2026, including navigating the potential opportunities arising from the UK Supreme Court’s ruling in the Emotional Perception AI case.We also discuss Wright’s passion for engaging with SMEs.

February 6, 202650 min

From idea to IP: navigating AI patents in a fast-moving field

In this Managing IP podcast, recorded in collaboration with Maiwald, leading European patent attorneys unpack what it takes to patent AI successfully in a field where technology and regulation are moving at speed.Reflecting the pace of change in this area, the EPO issued an updated preview of its AI-related guidance after the podcast was recorded, underlining how quickly examination practice continues to evolve.The following speakers from Maiwald share their insights based on deep technical and strategic experience across software, machine learning, and industrial applications:Dr Ian Weaver, partner;Dr Fabian Kiendl, counsel; Attila Kimpan, of counsel; andLutz Kietzmann, partner.They explore how the EPO approaches AI-related inventions and address the following key issues:The question of whether an AI invention is truly technical;What patent offices expect to see regarding training methods, data sources, and model structure – and why enablement can reveal hidden claim opportunities;How narratives can help open the ‘AI black box’ to guide examiners, judges, and future enforcement; andThe importance of matching filing strategies to the speed of AI innovation.Listen to the podcast for practical insights on turning AI ideas into defensible intellectual property rights.

January 19, 2026Episode 3218 min

The IP Lounge: INTA’s 2026 president on her holistic IP vision

Deborah Hampton talks through her hopes for the year, INTA’s patent focus, London 2026, and her love of music. In this episode, we are joined by Deborah Hampton, the 2026 INTA president.Hampton, global brand enforcement and trademark leader at the Chemours Company, started her one-year term on January 1 2026. She succeeded Elisabeth Stewart Bradley of Bristol Myers Squibb.Hampton sat down with Managing IP’s senior reporter, Sanjana Mishra, to discuss her plans for the year.We explore how she became involved with the association, the main themes for INTA during 2026, and how the association is preparing for the 2026 Annual Meeting in London.We also discuss what it means for Hampton to become INTA’s first African-American president and what the IP profession lacks when it comes to equal opportunities.Lastly, our guest takes on a ‘quickfire’ round to give us a flavour of the person behind the president.

December 11, 2025Episode 3128 min

Online IP Protection: why successful enforcement needs patents, TMs, designs and more

Lawyers at Zacco join Managing IP to discuss the shifting world of online IP enforcement.In this episode, sponsored by Zacco, we delve into Online IP Protection and how the concept of protecting brands online is evolving.Many of you will have heard of Online Brand Protection, a service typically involving the removal of illegal infringements or misleading content in order to protect a company’s brand or reputation.While traditional OBP makes use of trademarks as an enforcement tool, this podcast explores the next natural steps - the concept of Online IP Protection, or OIPP.Our guests introduce the concept of OIPP and outline how it makes use of an organisation’s entire IP portfolio, rather than just trademarks, to strengthen and enforce their innovation and their reputation online.We explore some potential use cases, the tools available, and discuss what organisations should consider if they want to make better use of IP rights. Finally, our guests present a few practical examples of OIPP and how you can adopt a broader approach to online enforcement.

December 8, 2025Episode 1034 min

Podcast: Formalising support for IP Inclusive

In the final episode of a podcast series celebrating the tenth anniversary of IP Inclusive, we discuss the IP Inclusive Charter and senior leaders’ pledge.Managing IP is proud to publish the final episode in a series of 10 podcasts celebrating the tenth anniversary of UK-based diversity network IP Inclusive.In our final episode, we discuss how to formalise support for IP Inclusive and why the IP Inclusive Charter and the senior leaders’ pledge are a good place to start. For this episode, we are joined by Andrea Brewster, lead executive officer at IP Inclusive and Gwilym Roberts, a partner at Kilburn & Strode and a dedicated supporter of IP Inclusive.In this episode, we delve into what the IP Inclusive Charter and senior leaders’ pledge are, what they require from businesses and how organisations can flourish from committing to them.IP Inclusive was set up in 2015 to promote and improve DEI and wellbeing throughout the UK’s IP profession.It aims to ensure that the UK’s IP profession is open and welcoming to all those with the necessary aptitude, regardless of their age, gender, race, sexuality, religion, physical and cognitive ability, wealth, and background.Previous episodes in the series have focused on ‘IP Out’, a network for LGBTQAI+ people and their allies working in the IP professions, ‘IP Ability’, a community for disabled people, carers and their allies working within the IP professions, and ‘IP & ME’, which supports ethnic minority IP professionals.The entire podcast series is also available on the IP Inclusive YouTube channel.

December 1, 2025Episode 928 min

Podcast: Celebrating, supporting and inspiring ethnic minority IP professionals

In the ninth episode of a podcast series celebrating the tenth anniversary of IP Inclusive, we discuss IP & ME, a community focused on ethnic minority IP professionals. Managing IP is proud to publish the latest episode in a series of podcasts celebrating the tenth anniversary of UK-based diversity network IP Inclusive.In this episode, the ninth of 10, we discuss IP Inclusive’s ‘IP & ME’ network, which celebrates ethnic diversity and inclusion in the IP professions. We discuss the challenges and opportunities for minority ethnic professionals in IP.For this episode, we are joined by Lianne Da-Cunha, co-lead of IP & ME and an associate at Forresters. IP Inclusive was set up in 2015 to promote and improve DEI and wellbeing throughout the UK’s IP profession.It aims to ensure that the UK’s IP profession is open and welcoming to all those with the necessary aptitude, regardless of their age, gender, race, sexuality, religion, physical and cognitive ability, wealth, and background.Previous episodes in the series have focused on the ‘Careers in Ideas’ network, ‘IP Out’, a network for LGBTQAI+ people and their allies working in the IP professions, and ‘IP Ability’, a community for disabled people, carers and their allies working within the IP professions.The entire podcast series is also available on the IP Inclusive YouTube channel.

November 25, 202523 min

The AfCFTA made simple: how to navigate filing trademarks in Africa

In this Managing IP podcast, Adams & Adams partners Mohamed Jameel Hamid and Alicia van der Walt demystify African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement and provide a roadmap for protecting trademarks on the continent.The agreement creates the largest free trade area in the world, covering 1.3 billion people and with a combined GDP of $3.4 trillion. For intellectual property (IP) owners, Jameel notes, increased intra-African trade means greater exposure – making robust, forward-looking trademark strategies more critical than ever.The Intellectual Property Rights Protocol of the AfCFTA is also highlighted. Adopted in 2023, the protocol’s goal is to harmonise IP frameworks across the continent. Jameel stresses that businesses should prepare for greater alignment and enhanced border measures in the years ahead.Turning to trademark protection in practice, Alicia presents a concise guide to the African filing landscape. She explains the strengths and limitations of Africa’s two regional IP systems – the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) – as well as the variable reliability of the Madrid System. The advice is clear: national filings remain the “golden standard”, particularly in first-to-file jurisdictions and markets where enforcement challenges persist.As Africa’s trading environment evolves, both speakers say that brand owners who plan early and file smartly will be best placed to unlock the continent’s increasing opportunities while mitigating risk.For the full discussion, listen to the podcast now.