Intellectual property protection has never been more critical. 2025 brings significant changes that could impact businesses across industries—from new regulations and funding opportunities to the legal status of AI-generated works.
To help you stay ahead and make the most of these shifts, we’ve prepared a clear and practical guide covering all the key intellectual property developments of 2025. Learn what steps to take now to safeguard your ideas and secure a competitive edge for the future.
Design Protection: Last Chance to Use the Current System
The European Union Design Regulation amendments, which will take effect on May 1, 2025, will significantly change the design protection system within the EU.
Businesses still have a chance to protect their EU designs at a lower cost. While the new system aims to modernize and streamline the registration process, in some cases, the current fee structure is more cost-effective. Therefore, design owners looking to secure their intellectual property rights in the EU at a lower price should act before May 1, 2025.
These changes are particularly important for technology and innovation sector companies working with digital solutions such as user interfaces, animations, and other dynamic elements. Under the new system, these innovations will now be eligible for intellectual property protection, providing a stronger competitive advantage and legal security in the market.
Additionally, the new regulations introduce more flexibility in protecting spare parts, creating a more favorable environment for manufacturers and users who want to secure design rights for vehicle components, appliances, and other repair and maintenance-related products.
Who Owns AI-Generated Works? The Business Perspective for 2025
2025 could be a defining year for establishing clear regulations on the authorship of AI-generated works. For businesses, this is not just a theoretical debate but a practical concern with direct implications for creative protection and commercial use.
Currently, the question of AI-generated content ownership varies across jurisdictions. Some countries consider such content eligible for intellectual property protection, while others place it in the public domain due to the lack of a human author. This legal uncertainty creates risks for businesses relying on AI technology for innovation.
A further complication is determining whether AI developers or users should be considered authors—or whether authorship could be attributed to the AI system itself. This lack of clarity raises legal challenges and increases commercial risks for businesses integrating AI-driven solutions.
In 2025, key legislative initiatives and court rulings are expected to bring more clarity to this issue. The European Union’s AI Act already outlines certain transparency and accountability requirements for AI systems, while courts in the U.S. and U.K. have already reviewed cases on AI-generated authorship. These rulings may set legal precedentsor serve as the foundation for new laws that will govern AI-generated creativity and provide much-needed clarity for businesses.
With these developments, 2025 could mark a turning point in the effort to harmonize international approaches and ensure that AI-generated works are regulated consistently, transparently, and effectively, keeping pace with the rapidly evolving technology and creative industries.
New EU Funding for Trademarks, Design Registration, and IP Scan Services Starting February 3
Starting February 3, 2025, the EU will once again provide funding for trademark and design registration, as well as IP Scan services. This could be the last opportunity to secure intellectual property protection at a reduced costwhile also gaining valuable insights into the strength of your IP portfolio.
Registering trademarks and designs is a critical step in protecting a business’s identity and innovation. The EU’s financial support helps reduce costs and provides high-quality advisory services on how to best protect intellectual property on an international scale. This initiative is particularly beneficial for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which often face financial constraints but still need to secure their unique products and solutions.
The IP Scan service acts as an “IP health check,” allowing businesses to assess their existing intellectual property assets and make strategic decisions about enhancing their protection. It helps identify potential risks, such as unregistered trademarks or designs that might be vulnerable in the marketplace, and provides recommendations on how to better safeguard and utilize IP assets.
Since this funding opportunity may not return, it’s essential to act now. By securing intellectual property protection today, businesses can ensure long-term security, strengthen their market position, and protect their innovations from unauthorized use. This is not just an economic advantage—it’s a strategic move to safeguard business success in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
Unitary Patent System: Do 2024 Rulings Change the Game?
The Unitary Patent System has now gained momentum, and after its first year in operation, it has become a key part of European patent protection. The 2024 rulings of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) not only set guidelines for the system’s implementation but also offer valuable insights for inventors, patent owners, and legal experts on its benefits and challenges.
One of the major advantages of the UPC is that it allows businesses to resolve patent disputes in a single court, covering all participating EU countries. This eliminates the need for multiple legal proceedings across different jurisdictions, reducing litigation costs and speeding up the process. However, this also means that a single unfavorable decision could impact an invention’s protection across the entire EU, making it crucial for patent owners to carefully evaluate whether to opt into this system.
The 2024 rulings also highlighted certain challenges, such as the integration of diverse national legal systems into a unified decision-making process, which is still evolving. Additionally, court decisions on patent validity and infringement often set precedents that shape future cases, requiring patent owners to closely monitor developmentsin the system.
In summary, while the Unitary Patent System is becoming an increasingly important component of European intellectual property protection, it demands a strategic approach. Companies and inventors should carefully assessthe opportunities and risks associated with this system and determine the best way to protect their inventions in this evolving legal landscape.
