This week's edition of IP weekly highlights includes: a hand-picked summary of news analysis, updates and new content from the world of IP. These highlights focus on the key rights of copyright and associated rights, database rights, trade marks and passing off, designs, and patents as well as covering issues relating to confidential information, know-how R&D and IP disputes all mainly from a UK and European perspective.

This week's edition of IP weekly highlights includes a hand-picked summary of news analysis, updates and new content from the world of IP. These highlights focus on the key rights of copyright and associated rights, design rights, database rights, trade marks and passing off, and patents, as well as covering issues relating to confidential information, know-how/R&D and IP disputes primarily from a UK and European perspective.

This week's edition of IP weekly highlights includes: a hand-picked summary of news analysis, updates and new content from the world of IP. These highlights focus on the key rights of copyright and associated rights, database rights, trade marks and passing off, designs, and patents as well as covering issues relating to confidential information, know-how R&D and IP disputes all mainly from a UK and European perspective.

This week's edition of IP weekly highlights includes: a hand-picked summary of news analysis, updates and new content from the world of IP. These highlights focus on the key rights of copyright and associated rights, database rights, trade marks and passing off, designs, and patents as well as covering issues relating to confidential information, know-how R&D and IP disputes.

The Infrastructure Projects Authority which is part of HMT responsible for managing the UK Guarantees Scheme supporting private investment in UK infrastructure projects.

The Insolvency Practitioner’s Association (IPA) has announced that the Joint Insolvency Committee (JIC) and Recognised Professional Bodies (RPBs) have issued a revised insolvency guidance paper (IGP) on dealing with complaints, replacing the guidance that has remained unchanged since 2009. The updated paper introduces a new hierarchical structure that outlines general considerations and detailed practical steps for insolvency practitioners. The revised guidance, which forms part of the JIC's strategic work plan to ensure alignment with current legislation and market conditions, will come into effect on 1 October 2025.

The Insolvency Practitioners Association (IPA) has issued guidance following HM Treasury's announcement of a voluntary COVID repayment scheme on 12 September 2025. The scheme permits individuals and businesses who wrongly claimed COVID support funds to return money until 25 December 2025. The Insolvency Service has confirmed to the IPA that repayment under the scheme does not guarantee protection to directors from enforcement action and that Insolvency Practitioners should continue to report misconduct through the director conduct reporting service, including awareness of any repayments made. The IPA is working to ensure government FAQs reflect that directors seeking repayment in insolvency situations should contact the appointed Insolvency Practitioner or Official Receiver rather than repaying directly to lenders.

The Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) has published its 2023-24 annual report, detailing the progress and developments of projects included in the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP). The report outlines 227 projects within the GMPP, with a total whole life cost of £834bn and £719bn in monetised benefits. The GMPP comprises 68 infrastructure and construction projects, 89 government transformation and service delivery projects, 44 military projects, and 26 information and communications projects.

The Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) has published a policy paper detailing the National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline 2023. The Pipeline details planned and projected investment in major economic and social infrastructure over the next ten years. The government has committed a £164bn investment, between 2024 and 2025, in major infrastructure and construction projects, with 660 projects and programmes across the public and private sectors. The policy paper aims to support the industry in making informed decisions.

The Infrastructure Planning Commission, which is now abolished. The IPC was set up under the Planning Act 2008 to determine applications for DCOs for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. It was abolished under the Localism Act 2011 and the powers to determine DCOs returned to the relevant Minister i.e. BEIS in the case of nuclear power stations and major overhead grid connections.

The Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (IPCO) has published the report of an investigation, led by Deputy Investigatory Powers Commissioner, Sir John Goldring, at the Prime Minister’s direction, into how MI5 came to provide false evidence to the High Court and the Investigatory Powers Tribunal regarding the status of ‘Agent X’ as a Covert Human Intelligence Source. The report found serious individual and systemic failings within MI5, including failures to obtain authorisation to depart from its Neither Confirm Nor Deny policy, missed opportunities to correct false evidence, flawed responses to IPCO and the courts, and failures to comply with duties of candour and statutory disclosure obligations. It concluded that these failings misled the High Court, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, the Investigatory Powers Commissioner and Special Advocates. Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, told Parliament that the report has been submitted to the Prime Minister and the courts, which will determine any further judicial action, and announced measures to strengthen oversight of MI5, including enhanced accountability of the Director General, greater independent challenge of internal reform programmes, and improved scrutiny of MI5’s litigation practices and legal processes. The statement also noted that MI5 has begun implementing reforms to address the failings identified, while IPCO said it will continue to monitor progress through its inspection programme.

IP analysis: The Intellectual Property and Enterprise Court (IPEC) dismissed a claim for trade mark infringement and passing off brought by Thatchers Cider Company Ltd (Thatchers) against Aldi Stores Ltd (Aldi) over the packaging of a cloudy lemon cider product. The court found that Thatchers had goodwill and reputation in its trade mark and product, but had not shown that Aldi’s use of a similar sign gave rise to a likelihood of confusion nor took unfair advantage of or caused detriment to Thatchers’ trade mark. The case highlights the continued scrutiny of evidence in lookalike cases, and the ever-increasing threshold for brands to show ‘copying’ rather than unfair advantage. Written by Kelly Saliger, partner and Tycho Orton, associate, at CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP.