IP and R&D

The life sciences sector is made up of a broad set of industries, such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology (devices and diagnostics), biotechnology, plant protection and cosmetics. Within each of these industries are many sub-divisions or specialisms. For example, within pharmaceuticals there are chemical compounds, active pharmaceutical ingredients, or chemical entities (which are more commonly known as small molecules). There are also biologically derived products used in pharmaceuticals, such as monoclonal antibodies. In addition, there are products at the borderline of pharmaceuticals, eg foodstuffs, which may be processed to have particular designed health benefits.

Intellectual property (IP) law consists of four main IP rights—patents, trade marks, designs and copyright. For guidance to each of these in the EU, see:

  1. Patents (EU Law)—overview

  2. Trade marks (EU Law)—overview

  3. Designs (EU Law)—overview

  4. Copyright, databases & associated rights (EU Law)—overview

Patents

Patents, which grant the proprietor the right to exclude others from using the invention within a particular jurisdiction for a limited period of time, are a key part of life sciences industries, much more so than in some other types of industry.

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Commission launches consultation to revise the EU Cybersecurity Act and strengthen the EU cybersecurity framework

The European Commission launched a call for evidence to support the preparation of a legislative proposal to revise the EU Cybersecurity Act. The initiative aims to strengthen EU cyber resilience, update the mandate of the EU Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) and improve the effectiveness of the European Cybersecurity Certification Framework. The Commission noted that the cybersecurity landscape has become significantly more complex and threat‑intensive since the Act’s adoption in 2019, while subsequent EU legislation has expanded ENISA’s tasks beyond its original mandate, creating the need to streamline, simplify and supplement the existing framework to ensure coherence, reduce administrative burdens and improve implementation for businesses and users. The initiative focuses on measures to support a secure and resilient Information and Communication Technology supply chain and the EU cybersecurity industrial base, addresses shortcomings in the certification framework such as slow adoption, unclear roles, limited agility and insufficient clarity on covered risks, including non‑technical factors, and considers alignment with newer instruments such as the Cyber Resilience Act. The Commission outlined policy options ranging from non‑legislative measures to targeted or comprehensive regulatory revision, stating that EU‑level action is required to prevent internal market fragmentation and to secure long‑term economic and social benefits through greater harmonisation, stronger cybersecurity and resilience, more efficient incident response and enhanced protection of fundamental rights, including personal data. The call for evidence will run until 20 June 2025.

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