The latest issue provides insights into the recent decision of the German Federal Patent Court of 12 December 2025 – 14 W (pat) 28/23, which addresses the question of whether a marketing authorisation for a veterinary medicinal product can qualify as the “first authorisation” where the same active ingredient has already been authorised as a human medicinal product. It also includes updates on UPC_CoA_446/2025, which offers important clarifications on the UPC’s approach to the assessment of imminent patent infringement in the pharmaceutical sector, as well as on UPC_CoA_8/2026, which deals with the question of whether a unitary patent can be obtained where not all UPC Member States were designated in the underlying application. In addition, Issue 6 of MAIinsight looks at the EPO’s approach to the admissibility of auxiliary requests with regard to convergence, carry-over and procedural discipline, as well as the legal concept of reformatio in peius. Finally, the latest volume provides an introduction to standard-essential patents and an in-depth commentary on [2026] UKSC 3, in which the UK Supreme Court departs from the long-standing Aerotel test when assessing a claim directed to a computer-implemented invention.

MAIinsight Ausgabe 6 – Maiwald