Design rights are a powerful – but often overlooked – component of a well-rounded intellectual property portfolio. In an exclusive Managing IP podcast, Tomas Wässingbo, group designs director at the international full-service intellectual property firm Zacco, and Christina Wainikka, intellectual property policy expert at the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, explain why companies should be paying closer attention to this form of protection. The need is heightened in light of the new EU Design Regulation and Directive, with several provisions having entered into force on May 1 2025.

The key themes discussed

The podcast explores the following areas, among others:

• The main differences between design, patent, and trademark rights;
• Debunking the myth that design rights are only applicable to certain industries;
• The primary attributes of design rights, including strong protection, swift registration, and clear ownership;
• Wide-ranging case law, from Vespa mopeds to rye bread; and
• How to use design rights to help to future-proof your intellectual property portfolio.

Design rights: emerging from the shadows?

Despite their strength and versatility, design rights remain underused. As Wässingbo notes, “Maybe one can say that design is often in the shadow of patents, utility patents, and trademarks.” 

Indeed, according to a January 2025 EUIPO report cited in the podcast, only 1% of SMEs and 10% of large companies in the EU own design rights, even though design right owners have 29.3% higher revenue per employee. A lack of awareness, fragmented responsibility across departments, and misconceptions about design protection have contributed to their underutilisation. “There is a lack of understanding of the benefits of design protection and also sometimes there is an obstacle in how [to] organise IP issues in different companies,” Wainikka says.

But change is afoot. The new EU legislative initiatives introduce several features that could heighten awareness. “[One] thing that is happening in Europe with the new design regime is that we will get this registered design symbol D with the ring around it, like the order for registered trademarks,” Wässingbo says. “That is something that everyone will see and hopefully that will lead to more understanding [that] there is a possibility to protect something with design rights like there is the possibility to protect the trademark.”

The outlook for design rights

Design rights appear poised to assume a bigger role, especially when considering factors such as gaming and mobile apps falling within their scope. Businesses with intellectual property portfolios should stay alert to the opportunities presented. As Wässingbo puts it: “We should all design the future.”

Hugues Derème, director general of the Benelux IP Office, unveils his vision for the region, how to improve IP awareness, and use of AI. 

In this episode, we are joined by Hugues Derème, director general of the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property.

Editor Max Walters catches up with Derème to discuss the office’s new strategic plan and his goals to raise IP awareness.  

In March, the office, which handles trademarks and designs in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, unveiled its new five-year plan for improving IP services.

Derème discusses the office’s goals, including high-quality IP services, digital transformation, and how to create greater understanding of IP in early-stage business planning.

He also discusses how he came to take on the DG role, which he assumed in July last year, and the transition from private practice to IP office work.

We will be back with a new episode in May. Thank you for listening.

We look ahead to next month’s EMEA Awards, discussing the recently published shortlists, our research methodology and what makes the Awards special. 

In this episode, we look ahead to Awards season at Managing IP.

Editor Max Walters is joined by research editor Kingsley Egbuonu to discuss next month’s EMEA Awards in London.

Kingsley and Max look back on the research methodology for the Awards, reflect on how the Awards have progressed over the last 20 years, and bring you some important details regarding the nomination and selection process. 

This year’s EMEA Awards, which will recognise talented practitioners and deserving law firms across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, will take place on April 10.

The event will be held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.

We will be back with a new episode of the IP Lounge in April. Thank you for listening.

We discuss how law firms are using AI, whether remote working has resulted in cost-savings, and what corporate counsel want from their advisers when it comes to DEI. 

In this episode, the team delves into some of the biggest talking points from the last few weeks.

Editor Max Walters is joined by Rani Mehta, senior reporter for the Americas, and Sukanya Sarkar, our special projects editor in Asia.

We look back at some of our recent coverage. 

On the agenda in today’s episode includes a look at whether law firms are noticing savings from switching to remote working, a look ahead to the latest artificial intelligence and tech trends, including how law firms are using AI, and a review of our newest What Corporates Want report, which this time focussed on what in-house counsel expect from law firms regarding DEI.

We will be back with a new episode in March. Thank you for listening.

One of Managing IP’s most influential people in IP for 2024, Hurtado Rivas discusses mental health in the profession, the changing role of a trademark lawyer, and what keeps a Nestlé IP counsel busy.

In this episode, we are joined by Myrtha Hurtado Rivas, an in-house counsel at Nestlé, who was featured in Managing IP’s 50 Most Influential People in IP, which was published at the end of 2024.

Editor Max Walters catches up with Hurtado Rivas to discuss her work both at Nestlé and externally.

Hurtado Rivas speaks passionately about the Leaderching project she founded in 2020.

Leaderching is a network of professionals that supports organisational and professional development. In the past 12 months, the network’s podcast has featured notable guests from the IP community and has actively encouraged conversations around mental health and wellbeing. 

We also discuss her work for INTA after she was appointed to the IP association’s board at the start of 2024 and her role as an ambassador for Brand Action – a fundraising initiative within the trademark profession.

Lastly, we cover Hurtado Rivas’s views on the role of an IP lawyer and why government intervention risks negatively affecting IP owners’ investments.

We will be back with a new episode in February. Thank you for listening.

Is artificial intelligence revolutionising the intellectual property space?

In this podcast episode, sponsored by CAS, we focus on the benefits, opportunities, and challenges of using emerging technologies in IP searching.

Kathy Van der Herten, director of product management at CAS, and Don Swartwout, senior technical manager at CAS, joined Managing IP's senior reporter Rani Mehta to discuss:

• How has AI and other emerging tech played a role in the evolution of the IP searching space? 
• What are the challenges of using AI for IP searches? 
• What’s next for the use of AI in IP searches?

About CAS

CAS connects the world’s scientific knowledge to accelerate breakthroughs that improve lives. It empowers global innovators to efficiently navigate today’s complex data landscape and make confident decisions in each phase of the innovation journey.

As a specialist in scientific knowledge management, the team builds the largest authoritative collection of human-curated scientific data in the world and provides essential information solutions, services, and expertise. Scientists, patent professionals, and business leaders across industries rely on CAS to help them uncover opportunities, mitigate risks, and unlock shared knowledge so they can get from inspiration to innovation faster. CAS is a division of the American Chemical Society.

We discuss Managing IP’s 50 most influential people in IP list and look back on the biggest talking points in the last month.

In this episode, the team delves into some of the biggest talking points from the last few weeks including the release of Managing IP’s 50 most influential people in IP.

Editor Max Walters is joined by Rani Mehta, senior reporter for the Americas, and Sukanya Sarkar, our special projects editor in Asia.

We begin the episode by looking over some of the names included in our 50 most influential people in IP list and how their inclusion links to some of the year’s biggest trends.

We also look back at the last few weeks. Coverage included an interview with private equity firms about what they look for in an IP business, how firms are preparing junior staff to conduct oral arguments, and why some lawyers are leaving social media platform X for Bluesky.

We will be back with a new episode in January. However you are spending it, we wish you a happy holiday season and a pleasant new year. Thank you for listening. 

In this episode, sponsored by Ropes & Gray, we delve into licensing negotiation groups.

Steven Pepe, Matthew Shapiro and Frances Zhang of Ropes & Gray joined Managing IP's senior reporter Rani Mehta to discuss:

• What are licensing negotiation groups? 
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of licensing negotiation groups? 
• Does a licensing negotiation group provide a good counterbalance to other tools available to patent owners, including patent pools?

We discuss Kathi Vidal’s departure from the USPTO, how IP business Qantm is using its private equity investment, and the latest AI trends spotted by law firms.

In this episode, the team delves into some of the biggest talking points from the last few weeks.

Editor Max Walters is joined by Rani Mehta, senior reporter for the Americas, and Sukanya Sarkar, our special projects editor in Asia.

Top talking points included an interview with leaders at intellectual property business Qantm who revealed how they are using their private equity investment. We also discussed the wash-up from this month’s US election and the news that USPTO director Kathi Vidal is to leave her role early.

We also looked into the latest artificial intelligence (AI) trends, including the news that some law firms have noticed an uptick in correspondence from other firms that appear to be AI-generated.

Elsewhere, we look ahead to the coming weeks including the publication of our annual ‘Top 50 most influential people in IP’ list.

We will be back with a new episode, including a review of our ‘Top 50’ list, in December. Thank you for listening.

Learn about the challenges of grey markets and parallel imports in a new podcast that dives deep into an often-overlooked issue that can have significant consequences for brands.

Joining Phil Myers, Managing IP's commercial editor, to offer their insights are Patrik Lindahl, a partner at Zacco, the international full-service intellectual property solutions and brand protection specialist, and Alessandra Vercelloni, the director of sales and brand protection, Southern Europe, at OpSec, the online protection and product authentication company.

Together, they break down the grey market, through which legitimate products are sold outside authorised channels, which threatens brand reputation, pricing strategies, and customer trust. The guest speakers discuss the complexities of grey market imports, including how unauthorised sales can erode brand value, strain distributor relationships, and confuse consumers with warranty and compliance issues. 

They also offer practical advice on detecting and mitigating these risks, such as tracking technologies, online monitoring tools, and legal strategies such as vertical agreements.

Is your brand at risk of grey market competition? Do you know how to respond to the threat? Listen to this podcast to learn more about the grey market and its potential impact on your brand.

In the latest episode, we discuss why IP firms might be attractive to PE investors and bring you the latest news on submissions for next year’s IP STARS rankings.

In this episode, the team delves into some of the biggest talking points from the last few weeks.

Editor Max Walters is joined by Rani Mehta, senior reporter for the Americas, and Sukanya Sarkar, our special projects editor in Asia.

Top of the list was the news that intellectual property attorney firm HGF received investment from private equity earlier this month.

The firm is not the only IP outfit to make such an announcement in recent months. We discuss the qualities that may make IP firms a target for private investment.

We also look at one law firm’s use of artificial intelligence to help its patent drafting process, and ask if, more generally, businesses are expecting too much too soon from technological advancements.

We also look back on our Asia-Pacific Awards, held last month, and preview next year’s Awards and rankings.

We will be back with a new episode in November. Thank you for listening.

In a podcast sponsored by Adams & Adams, we focus on intellectual property protection strategies and ownership considerations for artificial intelligence.

James Davies and Vishen Pillay, partners at at Adams & Adams in South Africa, joined Managing IP senior reporter Rani Mehta to discuss:

• How have different African countries' patent offices, courts and legislators approached the issue of whether AI can be an inventor?
• What kind of ownership uncertainties can AI create? 

About Adams & Adams

Adams & Adams is an internationally recognised and leading African law firm that specialises in providing intellectual property, corporate and commercial services.

The firm is firmly rooted in Africa – with a tenacious belief in the economic growth potential and spirit of the continent. The head office in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, provides the perfect gateway through which its partners, supported by some 700 professionals and staff, render a broad range of legal services to clients in Africa and the rest of the world.

In the latest episode, we discuss our latest list of in-house rising stars and analyse developments from AI work for law firms to legal market news in Canada. 

In this episode, the team unpicks some of the biggest talking points from the last few weeks.

Editor Max Walters is joined by Rani Mehta, senior reporter for the Americas, and Sukanya Sarkar, our special projects editor in Asia.

Top of the list is the latest IP Ones to Watch. Now in its fourth year, the list showcases peer-nominated up-and-coming talent in the in-house profession.

Meanwhile, Australia-based listed company IPH has been in the news regarding its activities in Canada. We discuss all the latest updates.

We also look at artificial intelligence, the latest on a proposed ban on non-compete agreements and the impact on trade secrets, and what the Managing IP team is looking ahead to in the coming weeks.

We will be back with a new episode in October. Thank you for listening.

In a podcast sponsored by Adams & Adams, we focus on the reality, regulation and risks of artificial intelligence in Africa and around the world.

Partner Werina Griffiths and associate Nontando Tusi at Adams & Adams in South Africa joined Managing IP senior reporter Rani Mehta to discuss:

• How has AI been used in various African countries?
• Have there been any steps taken to regulate the use of AI in these countries?
• How have different jurisdictions addressed the issue of whether content generated by AI models qualifies for copyright protection?

About Adams & Adams

Adams & Adams is an internationally recognised and leading African law firm that specialises in providing intellectual property, corporate and commercial services.

The firm is firmly rooted in Africa – with a tenacious belief in the economic growth potential and spirit of the continent. The head office in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, provides the perfect gateway through which its partners, supported by some 700 professionals and staff, render a broad range of legal services to clients in Africa and the rest of the world.

In the latest episode, we discuss the newest rankings published by IP STARS and analyse developments from AI guidelines to the purchase of a law firm.

In this episode, the team unpicks some of the biggest talking points from the last few weeks.

Editor Max Walters is joined by Rani Mehta, senior reporter for the Americas, and Sukanya Sarkar, our special projects editor in Asia.

Top of the list is the latest rankings released by Managing IP’s accreditation publication IP STARS. The most recent tranche of rankings is for lawyers active in copyright and transactions.

And in Australia, Qantm IP seems set to be taken over by private equity firm Adamantem Capital. We bring you all the latest on that development.

We also look at in-house patent prosecution strategies, asking when, or if, companies rely on external counsel, and discuss new guidelines regarding patent eligibility for artificial intelligence-related inventions in the US.

We will be back with a new episode in September. Thank you for listening.

Five female patent attorneys at Maiwald, spanning several age groups and practice areas, explain how the intellectual property firm encourages the career development of women and talented young professionals

Maiwald has relatively high female representation at all levels, while the progression of young talent is another prominent theme in this podcast.

The firm’s approach is far from new, however. “From the very beginning, Maiwald has enabled strong, talented women to advance to leadership positions,” Eva Ehlich, a partner at Maiwald, says.

Ehlich is joined by fellow Maiwald patent attorneys Sophie Ertl, Naho Fujimoto, Martina Boidol, and Anja Fux in a discussion with Managing IP's commercial editor, Phil Myers, that addresses the following topics, among others:

• The factors behind Maiwald’s empowerment of talented female and young practitioners;
• The role and nature of mentoring programmes at the firm; and
• Maiwald’s approach to flexible working and how partners balance their family lives with their work commitments. 

With the participants exemplifying Maiwald’s approach, the personal perspectives in the podcast offer valuable insights for firms and individuals to consider.

In the latest episode, Managing IP is joined by WIPO director general Daren Tang to discuss traditional knowledge, artificial intelligence, and bringing IP to the ‘man on the street’. 

In this episode, Managing IP was joined by Daren Tang, director general of WIPO.

Tang, who took over the reins in 2020, spoke to Managing IP’s editor Max Walters about the importance of WIPO’s historic treaty on traditional knowledge and genetic resources, which was agreed in May.

We also looked at what an IP office’s role should be and WIPO’s efforts to bring IP to the “man on the street” by breaking down unhelpful stereotypes.

There was also time to discuss artificial intelligence, WIPO’s interactions with governments, and what’s in store for the remainder of his six-year term (which ends in 2026).

Thank you for listening.

In this episode, the second of a two-part series sponsored by CAS, we focus on the key considerations for establishing or enhancing a patent monitoring programme.

Matt Garver, IP search analyst at CAS, and Peter Mattei, senior IP searcher at CAS, are joined Managing IP's senior reporter Rani Mehta to discuss:

• How do you determine what information you should be getting?
• How do you act on the information?  
• How do you evaluate a programme’s success? 

About CAS

CAS connects the world’s scientific knowledge to accelerate breakthroughs that improve lives. It empowers global innovators to efficiently navigate today’s complex data landscape and make confident decisions in each phase of the innovation journey.

As a specialist in scientific knowledge management, the team builds the largest authoritative collection of human-curated scientific data in the world and provides essential information solutions, services, and expertise. Scientists, patent professionals, and business leaders across industries rely on CAS to help them uncover opportunities, mitigate risks, and unlock shared knowledge so they can get from inspiration to innovation faster. CAS is a division of the American Chemical Society.

In this episode, the first of a two-part series, sponsored by CAS, we focus on the importance of developing a robust patent monitoring programme.

Matt Garver, IP search analyst at CAS and Peter Mattei, senior IP searcher at CAS, joined Managing IP's senior reporter Rani Mehta to discuss:

· What is patent monitoring? Why is it so important?

· What are companies doing if they do not have a robust patent monitoring programme in place, and what does that mean for them?

· What are the hallmarks of an effective programme?

In the latest episode, Managing IP is joined by Gwilym Roberts and Lee Davis from the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys to discuss the UPC, IP ministers, diversity and more.

In this episode, Managing IP was joined by representatives from the UK-based Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys.

Editor Max Walters was joined by CIPA’s chief executive Lee Davis and honorary secretary Gwilym Roberts, who is also chair of attorney firm Kilburn & Strode, to unpick the top talking points in the UK intellectual property profession.

We discussed CIPA’s involvement in shaping the UK’s role in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and how that tied in with the patent profession, as well as early trends from the Unified Patent Court. 

We also looked at how law firm working practices and IP office hearings are becoming more flexible, and at the state of diversity in the profession. 

Thank you for listening.

In the latest episode, the team discusses the battle to take control of listed company and IP business Qantm IP, and looks at some recent hiring trends.

In this episode, the team unpicks some of the biggest talking points from the last few weeks.

Editor Max Walters is joined by Rani Mehta, senior reporter for the Americas, and Sukanya Sarkar, our special projects editor in Asia.

Top of the list are the latest updates in the battle to acquire Australia-based Qantm IP. The business has entered into a binding arrangement that would allow private equity firm Adamantem Capital to buy all of its shares.

However, rival IP business IPH, which has also made an offer, could yet make a more attractive bid for Qantm.

We also look at law firm hiring strategies, including which firms have been prolific recently. To illustrate this, we discuss some of the findings from the Managing IP+ Talent Tracker, an interactive database that collates reported partner moves across the IP legal market.

Finally, we preview the INTA Annual Meeting, which kicks off on Saturday, May 18, in Atlanta; Max and Rani will be attending and will look forward to seeing some of you there.

We will be back with a new episode in June. Thank you for listening.

The winner of Managing IP’s Life Achievement Award discusses 50 years in IP law and how even he can’t avoid imposter syndrome.

In this episode, editor Max Walters and research editor Kingsley Egbuonu welcome Kevin Mooney to the IP Lounge.

Mooney, a partner at Simmons & Simmons who has worked in intellectual property law for more than 50 years, jointly won the Lifetime Achievement Award during the Managing IP EMEA Awards, which took place in London on April 11.

Mooney discusses his early thoughts on the Unified Patent Court (UPC), which he helped create, how it feels to spend an entire career at one firm, and why, despite his success, he suffers from imposter syndrome.

He also reveals his top unsung heroes behind the UPC project and his most memorable encounters during the setting up of the court. 

To read more about our awards research methodology, along with a list of all those shortlisted, click here. The full list of winners can be found here.

We will be back with a new episode in May. Thank you for listening.

In the latest episode of our monthly podcast, the team discusses AI clarifications from India and the US and previews the upcoming Managing IP Awards for EMEA and the Americas

In this episode, the team unpicks some of the biggest talking points from February and looks ahead to the  Managing IP Awards season.

Deputy editor Max Walters is joined by Rani Mehta, senior reporter for the Americas, and Sukanya Sarkar, our senior reporter in Asia.

Top of the list is artificial intelligence (AI), as there have been some notable clarifications on AI use from the Indian and US governments in recent weeks.

We also take a look at law firm strategies, including a potential acquisition for intellectual property firm Rouse.

Finally,  we preview next month's Managing IP Awards, as we look ahead to two major events.

The EMEA Awards will be held at London Hilton Park Lane on April 11, while the Americas awards will take place on April 25 at the JW Marriott Essex House in New York.

You can view the shortlist for the Americas awards here and for the EMEA awards here.

We will be back with a new episode in April. Thank you for listening.

In the latest episode of our monthly podcast, the team discusses standard-essential patent developments so far this year and delves into law firm hiring strategies.

It’s been a busy start to the year for the Managing IP editorial team. In this episode, the first of 2024, the team looks back over the biggest talking points in January.

Rani Mehta, senior reporter for the Americas, is joined by Sukanya Sarkar, our senior reporter in Asia.

Top of the list is standard-essential patents (SEPs). There have been some notable settlements in the past few weeks. However, the EU’s proposed SEP Regulation is still looming large after a crucial vote in the European Parliament last month and another coming up at the end of the month. Sukanya provides a rundown.

Also in this episode, we take a close look at law firm strategy trends.

Rani delves into how some firms are responding to patenting trends and an expected increase in litigation by making key hires, while Sukanya looks at consolidated firms and tells us why some in-house counsel are wary of using their services.

We will be back with a new episode in March. Thank you for listening.

In the final episode of 2023, the team discusses our Top 50 and the biggest IP events of the year.

It’s been an exciting year for the Managing IP editorial team.

In this episode, senior reporter Rani Mehta is joined by Sukanya Sarkar, our senior reporter in Asia, and Rory O’Neill, our senior reporter based in Europe, to discuss some of the picks from this year's list of the 50 most influential people in IP 2023.

The annual end-of-year list recognises those who had the biggest impact on intellectual property developments over the course of the last 12 months. The 2023 list included film director Greta Gerwig and Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI.

Also in this episode, our team members reflect on some of the biggest developments of the year including the formation of the Unified Patent Court and the struggles of foreign law firms in China.

This is our final IP Lounge episode for 2023. We will be back with a new episode in January. Thank you for listening and we wish everyone a happy holiday season and new year.