Legal Research

CAR T Cell Therapy Patent - US12600775B2

USPTO granted Patent US12600775B2 to Kite Pharma, Inc. for methods of preparing, producing, processing, culturing, isolating, or making cells suitable for immune or cell therapy and their use in cell therapy. The patent covers CAR T cell therapy methods with applications in cancer treatment.

EU Official Journal Regulations Decisions Directives Index No. 29

The Gazzetta Ufficiale, Serie Speciale - Unione Europea, n. 29 (16 April 2026) compiles 11 EU regulations, decisions, and directives adopted between October 2025 and February 2026, covering financial reporting (IFRS 18 amendment), customs transit procedures (Moldova, Montenegro additions), food additives, poultry meat marketing standards, traditional herbal medicines, and pesticide approvals (permethrin). The acts were originally published in the Official Journal of the European Union between 16 February and 17 February 2026, and cover sectors spanning accounting, trade, food safety, and agriculture.

Italian Official Gazette No. 88: Emergency Declarations, Drug Authorizations, Public Procurement

The Italian Official Gazette (Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana) published Issue No. 88 on April 16, 2026, containing a table of contents (Sommario) for multiple governmental instruments. Key items include a state of emergency declaration for Abruzzo, Basilicata, Molise, and Puglia regions following severe weather events beginning March 28, 2026; public procurement thresholds for Consip S.p.a. and other aggregated entities; modification to the protected geographical indication (IGP) for Prosciutto di Sauris; and five drug authorizations/modifications issued by AIFA (Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco) including Safinamide Teva, Clindamicina Noridem, Ruxolitinib Vivanta, Tocalfa, and Torvacol.

Italian Corporate Assembly Convocation Notices - Gazzetta Ufficiale Parte Seconda n. 44

The Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana published Parte Seconda n. 44 dated 16 April 2026, containing 13 ordinary and extraordinary shareholder assembly convocation notices for Italian companies including Adler Resort Sicilia S.p.A., Confidimpresa Farmafidi Italia, Fincres S.p.A., Grafibox Sud S.p.A., Innovest S.p.A., and others. The edition also includes 5 additional commercial notices concerning credit securitisation and assignment transactions under Law 130/1999 and the Consolidated Banking Law (TUB), covering entities such as Allfunds Bank S.A.U., Arts Securitisation S.r.l., Fiandra SPV S.r.l., Finafarm SPV S.r.l., and Nexus Credit Italia SPV S.r.l.

P. v. Harzan - Criminal Appeal

The California Fourth District Court of Appeal, Division Three issued a published opinion in People v. Harzan (G064798) on April 16, 2026. The appellate court ruled on matters affecting the rights of the defendant/appellant Harzan in a criminal proceeding. This published opinion establishes precedent for future criminal cases in California.

NNN Capital Fund I LLC v. Mikles - Published Appellate Opinion

The California Court of Appeal, Fourth District Division Three issued a published opinion in NNN Capital Fund I, LLC v. Mikles on April 16, 2026. The appellate court ruled in favor of NNN Capital Fund LLC, reversing or modifying the lower court's judgment. This published decision establishes legal precedent and is binding on the parties.

Adipose Tissue Purification Machine, Neosyad

The European Patent Office published patent EP4444375A1 for Neosyad, covering a machine for purifying adipose tissue and reintroducing it into a patient's body. The patent names inventors Roche, Cabaud, and Nelissen and classifies under A61M medical devices.

Device for Delivering Substance to Body Cavity - EP4243993A1

The European Patent Office published patent application EP4243993A1 for AptarGroup, Inc., covering devices for delivering a substance to a body cavity. The invention relates to nasal spray applicators and substance delivery mechanisms classified under IPC A61M. The patent application was published April 8, 2026, designating all EU member states and extended European Patent Convention states.

Guidewire Extension System for Catheter Placement Device

The European Patent Office published patent application EP4115938A1 for a guidewire extension system used in catheter placement devices, filed by C. R. Bard, Inc. The invention relates to medical device technology for improving catheter placement procedures. The patent grants IP rights across 38 designated European states including AT, BE, DE, ES, FR, GB, IT, NL, and others.

Systems and Methods for Generating Nitric Oxide Using Microwave Energy (EP4384248A1)

The European Patent Office granted Patent EP4384248A1 to Third Pole, Inc. covering systems and methods for generating nitric oxide using microwave energy. The patent application includes multiple IPC classifications spanning medical devices, chemical compositions, and plasma generation technologies. The patent designates 31 European contracting states for protection.

Status Sensing Systems for Connected Injection Device EP4257167A2

EPO published patent application EP4257167A2 for Eli Lilly and Company's status sensing systems for connected injection devices. The application, filed by inventors PATEL, SOMLAI, and WIESLER, covers injection devices with sensing technology for monitoring injection status. The patent designates all EU member states plus extension states including AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM, TR.

EP4251259A1, Bulkhead Anchor Medical Leads

The European Patent Office published patent application EP4251259A1 titled 'Bulkhead Anchor for Medical Device Leads' on April 8, 2026. The application names Advanced Neuromodulation Systems, Inc. as the applicant with inventors Dawson, Jackson, Raines, and Reardon. The invention relates to anchoring mechanisms for neurostimulation and catheter leads classified under A61N 1/05, A61M 25/04, and A61B 17/00.

Peritoneal Dialysis Fluid Preparation Systems and Methods - EP4218849A2

The European Patent Office published European patent application EP4218849A2 by Gambro Lundia AB, covering systems and methods for peritoneal dialysis having point-of-use dialysis fluid preparation including mixing and heating. The application, filed under IPC classification A61M 1/28, names nine inventors and is now publicly available in all designated contracting states. The publication grants the applicant exclusive rights to the disclosed technology.

Chemical Engines and Methods for Injecting Highly Viscous Fluids - Eli Lilly EP4252801A2

The European Patent Office published patent application EP4252801A2 for Eli Lilly and Company, titled 'Chemical Engines and Methods for Their Use, Especially in the Injection of Highly Viscous Fluids.' The patent covers injection devices designed to deliver highly viscous pharmaceutical fluids, classified under A61M (medical injectors). The patent designates all EU member states and EPO contracting states.

Inreda Diabetic Infusion Set With Adjustable Elements

The European Patent Office published patent EP4319860A1 for Inreda Diabetic B.V., covering an adjustable infusion set system for diabetic patients. The patent designates all EU member states as well as other European countries including Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Turkey.

Chimeric Antigen Receptors Targeting CD79B and CD19 for Cancer Treatment

USPTO granted Patent US12600760B2 to The General Hospital Corporation on April 14, 2026, covering chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) targeting CD79B and CD19 for cancer treatment. The patent includes methods for producing T cells with CARs having extracellular domains that bind both CD79b and CD19. Invented by Marcela V. Maus, the patent covers upfront treatment methods where the patient has not been previously treated for the cancer.

Treatments for Ocular Neovascularization

USPTO granted patent US12599680B1 to 4D Molecular Therapeutics Inc. covering compositions and methods for treating ocular neovascular diseases such as wet age-related macular degeneration. The patent contains 24 claims and expires August 14, 2045.

Battery Passport EP4454212A1, BASF SE, Published 8th Apr

The European Patent Office published patent application EP4454212A1 for a Battery Passport system filed by BASF SE. The invention covers a digital documentation system for tracking battery materials across the supply chain. The patent grants BASF exclusive rights across 32 designated contracting states including all EU member states.

Physical Voting Ballot with Individual and Unique Numbering/Coding Patent EP4377876A1

The European Patent Office published patent application EP4377876A1 titled 'Physical Voting Ballot with Individual and Unique Numbering/Coding' filed by applicant/inventor Damiani, Antonio Serafim. The application relates to physical voting ballots incorporating unique identification coding systems. The patent has been published with an International Patent Classification designation G06Q 50/26 (government data processing) and G07C 13/00 (voting machinery).

PREDICTION DATA DISPLAY DEVICE, PREDICTION DATA DISPLAY METHOD, AND PREDICTION DATA DISPLAY PROGRAM (EP4404113A1)

The European Patent Office published patent EP4404113A1 for Resonac Corporation, covering a prediction data display device, method, and program for battery state forecasting. The patent relates to machine learning-based prediction technology (G06N 20/10) applied to battery monitoring applications including H01M 10/48 and G01R 31/392/367, with additional classification in predictive analytics (G06Q 10/04). The patent is designated for all 35 Extended Partnership Agreement states.

Fleet-Specific Driver Performance Monitoring System

The European Patent Office published patent EP4402434A1 titled 'Systems and Methods for Determining and Using Fleet-Specific Driver Performance' assigned to Omnitracs, LLC. The invention covers systems and methods for monitoring and evaluating driver performance specific to commercial vehicle fleets. The patent application was filed with claims spanning multiple IPC classifications including G06Q 10/06, G06Q 10/08, G06Q 10/0631, G06Q 10/0639, and B60W 40/09. Designated states include all EU member states plus EFTA countries.

Privacy-Preserving Content Delivery (EP4413523A1)

EPO published patent application EP4413523A1 by Google LLC titled 'Privacy-Preserving Content Delivery' in the G06Q 30/0251 classification. The patent covers methods and systems for delivering content to users while preserving privacy, with inventors including Rishav Anand, Steven Avery, Akhil Dhavala, and Sittichai Jiampojamarn.

System and Method for Organizing a Sale Service (EP4421723A1)

The EPO has published European Patent Application EP4421723A1, filed by inventor Abenov, Marat Rashidovich, covering a system and method for organizing a sale service for goods and services. The patent application was published on April 8, 2026, under IPC classifications G06Q 30/02, G06Q 50/34, and related commerce and payment system categories. The designation covers multiple European states including DE, FR, GB, IT, ES, NL, and others.

Chemical Product Passport, Emission Data, BASF SE, 8th Apr

Chemical Product Passport, Emission Data, BASF SE, 8th Apr

BASF SE Chemical Product Passport Patent EP4454211A1

The European Patent Office published BASF SE's patent application EP4454211A1 for a chemical product passport system managing recyclate content data and bio-based content data. The invention, classified under G06Q business methods, enables tracking and certification of recycled and bio-based materials in chemical products. The patent names Henning Schwabe, Andreas Wollny, and Dennis Haardt as inventors and designates 27 European states.

BOE April 17, 2026: Maritime Treaties, Military Education, Disability Rules

The official Spanish Gazette (BOE) edition for April 17, 2026 (Number 94) publishes multiple ministerial instruments including IMO amendments to the STCW Convention on seafarer training (adopted London 2023-2024), Order DEF/346/2026 approving the 'Avanza' military training program for enlisted personnel advancement to non-commissioned officer ranks, and Order DCA/348/2026 implementing disability recognition procedures in Ceuta and Melilla. This daily compilation serves as the official record of Spanish government actions across multiple ministries.

Dyer v. MetLife Pet Insurance - Motion to Remand

Justin Warren Dyer filed a motion to remand Dyer v. MetLife Pet Insurance back to Santa Clara Superior Court on April 16, 2026, challenging MetLife Pet Insurance Solutions LLC and Metropolitan General Insurance Company's April 13 removal of the case from state court. Responses are due by April 30, 2026, and replies are due by May 7, 2026. The federal court will determine whether removal was proper under diversity jurisdiction or whether the case must be returned to state court.

B.E. Technology LLC v. Google LLC - Patent Infringement

The U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware issued a ruling in patent infringement case B.E. Technology LLC v. Google LLC. Judge Gregory B. Williams presided over Case 20-622. The court addressed allegations of patent infringement by Google, a major technology company.

Fatir v. Phelps et al - Magistrate Judge Opinion

Magistrate Judge Eleanor G. Tennyson issued an opinion in Fatir v. Phelps et al, Case No. 18-1549, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware on April 16, 2026. The opinion addresses claims brought by plaintiff Fatir against defendants Phelps et al. The full opinion is available via the court's published PDF.

AutoConnect Holdings LLC v. Ford Motor Company

The U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware issued an opinion in AutoConnect Holdings LLC v. Ford Motor Co., Case No. 24-1327. Judge Jennifer Choe-Groves presided over the matter. The opinion was filed on April 16, 2026.

Rathee v. Delaware State University

The District Court for the District of Delaware issued a ruling in Case 24-777 on April 16, 2026. The court addressed whether Delaware State University, as a state entity, had standing to appear in federal court proceedings. The decision establishes precedent regarding the representation requirements for state universities in federal civil litigation. The ruling affects how state educational institutions must approach federal court filings.

Court of Chancery Denies Petition to Backdate Director Election for The Stephen A. Marks Foundation

The Delaware Court of Chancery denied a petition by Mary Marks seeking to validate her appointment as sole director of The Stephen A. Marks Foundation, Inc. effective August 9, 2023, approximately six months before the special meeting at which she was elected. The court concluded it cannot grant the requested relief. The Attorney General did not object to confirming Petitioner's election but objected to the proposed backdated effective date, arguing it should be no earlier than March 31, 2025 when the action was filed. The Foundation distributed approximately $80,000 to various charities on August 9, 2023, after its sole director Stephen A. Marks passed away on May 11, 2022, leaving the organization without directors, officers, or members.

Maric Healthcare LLC v. Ramirez-Groothuis - $4M+ Damages for Fiduciary Duty Breach

The Delaware Court of Chancery found former Maric Healthcare executive Perla Ramirez-Groothuis liable for breaching fiduciary duties owed as Manager of Colorado Treatment Services LLC and New Mexico Treatment Services LLC. The court found she solicited a key employee to join a competing company she formed, Elevate, operating an opioid treatment clinic two miles from CTS. Plaintiffs proved over $4 million in damages plus travel costs for recruiting a replacement hire. The court found Ramirez's fiduciary obligations arose from LLC agreements she signed as Manager and President, regardless of her personal understanding of those duties at signing.

Gonzales v. Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC - ADA Discrimination Affirmed

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's judgment in favor of Roman Gonzales in his Americans with Disabilities Act suit against Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, upholding jury verdicts on retaliation and 'regarded as' discrimination claims. The court rejected Battelle's argument that revoking Gonzales's fitness-for-duty certification—a requirement under 10 C.F.R. § 1046 for Security Police Officers at the Idaho National Laboratory—was a nonreviewable security clearance decision under Dep't of Navy v. Egan. The panel held that unlike DOE Q access authorization under the Human Reliability Program, the § 1046 fitness-for-duty determination is justiciable because the medical and physical standards are not tied to predictive national security judgments.

Brown v. Brita Products Co. - Reasonable Consumer Standard in Water Filter Labeling Claims

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's dismissal of Nicholas Brown's putative class action against The Brita Products Company alleging California consumer protection law violations (UCL, FAL, CLRA), breach of warranty, and unjust enrichment related to water filter labeling. The court held that no reasonable consumer would expect a fifteen-dollar water filter to remove common hazardous contaminants to below lab detectable limits given Brita's clear disclosures about filter capabilities and NSF/EPA certifications. The panel further held that amendment would be futile, foreclosing further litigation of these claims.

United States v. Conchas-Mancilla - Canine Alert Provides Probable Cause for Search

The Fifth Circuit affirmed the conviction of Jesus Arturo Conchas-Mancilla for possession with intent to distribute cocaine (21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A)), upholding the district court's denial of his motion to suppress 17.4 kilograms of cocaine discovered in his vehicle at a border checkpoint in Sarita, Texas. The court held that certified drug-detection dog Badi's alert near the vehicle's rear bumper, combined with Agent Whetten's recognition of the alerting behavior and corroborating testimony, provided probable cause for the search under the totality of circumstances test from Florida v. Harris. The ruling reinforces that canine alerts at immigration checkpoints can establish probable cause without requiring a trained 'indication' behavior, provided the handler is trained to recognize the dog's alerting conduct.

Croatia Schengen Border Penalties for Unauthorised Crossing (Article 42 Notification)

Croatia has notified the European Commission of penalties under its national law for unauthorised crossing of external borders pursuant to Article 42 of Regulation (EU) 2016/399 (Schengen Borders Code). Under the State Border Control Act, natural persons crossing outside designated border crossing points or hours face up to 30 days imprisonment or fines of EUR 260–1,320. Separately, assisting third-country nationals in illegal crossing, transit, or stay carries up to 60 days imprisonment or EUR 3,000 per person assisted, with mandatory confiscation of transport means for owners.

Ukraine Plan Partial Fulfilment Methodology Amendment

The European Commission has amended the methodology for assessing partial fulfilment of steps in the Ukraine Plan under the Ukraine Facility Regulation, replacing Communication C(2025) 1725. The revised methodology introduces a 12-month cure period allowing Ukraine to address implementation gaps after an initial negative assessment while still receiving partial payment for steps satisfactorily completed. The amendment reflects approximately one year of practical experience with the methodology's application and responds to disruptions caused by continued Russian aggression against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure affecting the Verkhovna Rada's legislative work.

Council Position 3/2026 Amending SRM Regulation on Early Intervention, Resolution Conditions and Funding

The Council of the European Union adopted Position (EU) No 3/2026 on 5 March 2026, amending Regulation (EU) No 806/2014 (the Single Resolution Mechanism Regulation) as regards early intervention measures, conditions for resolution, and funding of resolution action. The amendment addresses identified shortcomings in the Union resolution framework, including inadequate incentives for resolution authorities to apply the framework rather than unharmonised national measures, insufficient protection for depositors against losses in resolution, and disincentives to access resolution funding compared to funding outside resolution. The text is EEA-relevant and was adopted following the ordinary legislative procedure.

Croatia Schengen Border Document Carry Obligations Notified

Croatia has notified the European Commission and other Member States of national provisions requiring document-carrying and presentation obligations under Article 23(c) of the Schengen Borders Code (Regulation (EU) 2016/399). The notification replaces the list published in OJ C 272 of 20.9.2013 and cites three Croatian statutes: Article 167 of the Aliens Act (requiring third-country nationals to carry and present travel documents), Article 35(1) of the EEA Nationals Act (requiring EEA nationals to carry identity documents), and Article 16(1) of the Identity Card Act (requiring permanent residents to carry identity cards).

Council Position on GHG Emissions Accounting of Transport Services

The Council of the European Union adopted Position (EU) No 2/2026 at first reading on 26 February 2026, establishing common rules for greenhouse gas emissions accounting of transport services under the Count Emissions EU initiative, part of the Greening Freight Transport package. The final compromise text was confirmed by COREPER on 26 November 2025 following a second trilogue on 5 November 2025, with nine prior interinstitutional technical meetings held under the Danish Presidency. The framework prioritises primary data use while allowing member states to mandate its use for operations on their territories, applies only to entities voluntarily calculating or mandated to disclose GHG emissions at disaggregated level, and is based on a recently adopted ISO standard.

SRMR Amendment - Early Intervention Measures, Resolution Conditions and Funding

The Council of the European Union adopted Position (EU) No 3/2026 at first reading on 5 March 2026, setting the Council's negotiating mandate for the amendment of Regulation (EU) No 806/2014 (SRMR) concerning early intervention measures, resolution conditions and funding of resolution action. This forms part of the broader Crisis Management and Deposit Insurance (CMDI) review package submitted by the Commission on 19 April 2023. The Council's Working Party on Financial Services and the Banking Union held extensive discussions across multiple meetings from May 2023 to June 2024, with the Permanent Representatives Committee approving the mandate on 19 June 2024. The European Parliament had previously adopted its first reading position on 24 April 2024, enabling trilogue negotiations to proceed. The ECB opinion was adopted on 5 July 2023 and the EESC opinion on 13 July 2023.

Council Position at First Reading on Transport GHG Emissions Accounting Regulation

The Council of the European Union adopted its Position No 2/2026 at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure, setting out the terms for a proposed Regulation on greenhouse gas emissions accounting of transport services. The draft Regulation cites Articles 91(1) and 100(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as its legal basis and is issued with EEA relevance. Key recitals note that SMEs face disproportionately high financial and administrative burdens in calculating transport-related greenhouse gas emissions, and that the overall uptake of such accounting remains limited across the transport sector, which includes transport operators, transport service organisers, and hub operators. The European Parliament and the Council will continue the legislative process toward final adoption of the Regulation.

Croatia Notifies Third-Country National Reporting Obligation Under Schengen

Croatia Notifies Third-Country National Reporting Obligation Under Schengen

CMA Fines AA £4.2m for Hidden £3 Booking Fee Under DMCCA

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has fined Automobile Association Developments Limited (AA) £4.2 million for infringing consumer protection law under the Digital Markets Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA). The enforcement action was triggered by the AA's failure to disclose a mandatory £3 booking fee upfront when learner drivers booked driving lessons between April and December 2025. The CMA has also ordered the AA to refund £760,000 to approximately 80,000 affected learner drivers. The AA received a 40% reduction to its financial penalty for admitting the breach and settling early.

Scotland Single-Sex Ruling Anniversary One Year On Impact Lives

A year after the UK Supreme Court ruled in For Women Scotland v Scottish Ministers that the legal definition of 'woman' under the Equality Act is based on biological sex, affected parties report mixed experiences implementing the ruling. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has updated its code of practice and resubmitted guidance for government approval by equalities minister Bridget Phillipson, following criticism of delays. Organisations including the Women's Institute and Girlguiding have changed membership policies to exclude trans women, while some Rape Crisis and Women's Aid centres have reaffirmed single-sex policies.

Visas, Values, and the Case of Kanye West

This article uses the reported difficulty of Kanye West entering the United Kingdom as an illustrative case study to explain the 'not conducive to the public good' test applied by the UK Home Office. It explains how Entry Clearance Officers assess visitor visa applications against consistent legal standards regardless of fame or status, evaluating financial coherence, genuine intent, credible ties to home country, and documentation consistency. The piece emphasises that UK immigration decisions carry finality once made and are not easily overturned by public pressure or campaigns.

Being Autistic in the Legal Profession: My Experience

Jonathan Andrews, an autistic solicitor at Reed Smith, shares his personal experience navigating a career in law following a diagnosis at age nine. He describes how openness about his neurodivergence helped rather than hindered his progression, including securing one of the firm's highest interview scores after graduate recruitment arranged a pre-interview office visit to accommodate his needs. Andrews discusses his successful qualification into the Entertainment and Media team, his work as a solicitor-advocate, and his ongoing advisory role on client DEI initiatives. He emphasises that while visibility of neurodivergent lawyers has increased over the past decade, significant barriers remain for aspiring solicitors on the autism spectrum.

Retrospective Amendments to Pension Scheme Documents

Paul Newman KC provides legal analysis on the limits of validity for retrospective amendments to pension scheme documents under UK law. The article examines the extent to which such amendments may be rendered effective through careful drafting. The analysis is directed at legal professionals and pension scheme trustees seeking to understand the constraints on modifying pension documents with retroactive effect.