The EPO published a patent application (EP4094418A1) filed by Valimail Inc. on March 25, 2026, titled 'Interaction Control List Determination and Device Adjacency and Relative Topography.' The invention covers methods for determining interaction controls based on the proximity and spatial relationships between devices, classified under H04L 9/40 (network security). The patent names inventors Wilson, Blank, and Goldstein and designates 36 European contracting states including Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, and others.

Patent publications do not create compliance obligations. Companies in the cybersecurity, email authentication, or network security sectors should note this publication for competitive intelligence purposes, as Valimail is an email security firm. No immediate regulatory action is required, but organizations developing similar proximity-based security technologies may need to consider potential patent landscape implications.