News - January 2026
- IP Australia adopts a new patents search tool
- Notification in change of PCT Fees from 1st January 2026
- Strengthening patent quality: new tool for public input and accelerated examination
- Mexico’s IMPI expands Patent Linkage Gazette to include medical-use patents
- PPH program between the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP)
- President ratifies Trademark Bill
- Changes to the Class Headings of Goods and Services in Trademark Applications
- Paraguay Updates Rules on Compensation for Private Use of Copyright
- Coming on January 1, 2026: Thirteenth Edition of the Nice Classification
1 IP Australia adopts a new patents search tool
We've adopted the next-generation ANSERA-based SEARCH tool (AbS), a patent search capability developed by the European Patent Office.
Already used within European IP offices, AbS replaces the legacy EPOQUE search tool, which will be decommissioned at the end of 2025. AbS was implemented by our agency in October 2025.?
AbS is used internally by our patent examiners to conduct patent searches. Our examiners will continue to make decisions in line with patents practice and procedures.
While the practical use of?AbS differs to EPOQUE,? customers will not experience any change to the substance of our search products…
Source URL:- https://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/news-and-community/news/ip-australia-adopts-a-new-patents-search-tool
2 Notification in change of PCT Fees from 1st January 2026
As and from the 1st of January 2026, the International Fees for a PCT will change as per the table below;
International Filing Fee | Was: €1417 | New Fee: €1428 |
Search Fee | Was: €1845 | New Fee: €1845 (No change) |
Sheets in Excess of 30 pages | Was: €16 | New Fee: €16 (No change) |
E-Filing Reductions: Item 4(a) | Was: €107 | New Fee: €107 (No change) |
Item 4(b) | Was: €213 | New Fee: €215 |
Item 4(c) | Was: €320 | New Fee: €322 |
3 Strengthening patent quality: new tool for public input and accelerated examination
From December 2025, a new online form makes it easier for third parties to file observations on any published patent application. Accelerated handling of applications under PACE will be reserved for examination. The EPO is introducing new measures to support users and strengthen the patent system. A new online tool makes it easier for the public to submit observations on pending applications and patents under opposition. The EPO is also refining its acceleration procedures, by focusing its fast-track service exclusively on the examination…
4 Mexico’s IMPI expands Patent Linkage Gazette to include medical-use patents
On 30 October 2025, the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) published an edition of the Patent Linkage Gazette that included, for the first time, patents for medical use. This list consists of 139 such patents, compared to the 39 accumulated in August and September of this year. It includes recently filed applications, as well as cases that were previously rejected or are still in the appeals process.
The Gazette is used by the health authority (FCPASR) and the IMPI to prevent marketing authorisations from being granted to generics or biosimilars that could infringe active patents…
5 PPH program between the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP)
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) have been implementing the PPH pilot program since 1 January 2020.
The JPO and the SAIP agreed to fully implement the PPH program with an indefinite period from 1 January 2026. Additionally, from the same date, it will be possible to submit PPH requests to the Japan Patent Office using the international work products created by the SAIP as ISA/IPEA…
Source URL:- https://www.jpo.go.jp/e/system/patent/shinsa/soki/pph/japan_saudiarabia_highway.html
6 President ratifies Trademark Bill
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has ratified the Trademark Bill.
The bill was passed by the 20th People’s Majlis during its 17th sitting of the third session of 2025, held on Monday, 10 November 2025.
The bill establishes a framework for the registration of trademarks, defining the main principles of protection for owners of registered marks and the legal measures available in cases of infringement. It aims to create a safeguarded environment for local artisans and businesses.
It also sets out the civil measures that may be taken in the event of trademark infringement, the procedures to be followed when importing goods that infringe a registered mark, and the criminal penalties applicable to counterfeiting. In addition, it specifies the respective roles of the courts…
Source URL:- https://presidency.gov.mv/Press/Article/35655
7 Changes to the Class Headings of Goods and Services in Trademark Applications
A new advertisment on the classification of goods and services will enter into force on 1 January 2026. The advertisment is No. 1355/2025 and can be accessed via the Official Gazette of Iceland.
The updated classification will apply to all trademark applications submitted to the Icelandic Intellectual Property Office (ISIPO) on or after 1 January 2026. Applications submitted on or before 31 December 2025 will continue to follow the current classification and will not be reclassified.
Amendments have been made to the class headings of Classes 1, 3, 8, 9, 10, 26, and 29, as outlined in the advertisment…
8 Paraguay Updates Rules on Compensation for Private Use of Copyright
Paraguay has adopted a new regulation on copyright and private copying (Decree No. 4212/25), which updates and replaces the previous 2015 framework. The decree modernises the rules on compensation for private copying in an increasingly more digitalized context.
The regulation confirms that authors, performers, producers, and other rightsholders are entitled to fair compensation when their works are copied using private devices such as smartphones and memory drives. Importantly for businesses, the decree clarifies that this compensation is not a tax…
9 Coming on January 1, 2026: Thirteenth Edition of the Nice Classification
The 13th edition of the Nice Classification will take effect on January 1, 2026. The Nice Classification is the international classification of goods and services used for the registration of marks. New editions are published every three years, with annual updates to each edition…