On 30 January 2026, two industry organisations – the Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia (IPTA) and Medicines Australia (MA) – filed applications with the High Court of Australia to intervene as amici curiae in Otsuka’s application for special leave to appeal from the decision of the Full Federal Court finding that pharmaceutical formulations are not eligible for a patent term extension (PTE).

The New Zealand Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal by New Zealand toy manufacturer, Zuru, holding that it was not trade mark infringement for Zuru to use the phrase “LEGO® BRICK COMPATIBLE” on the packaging of its plastic bricks. It also upheld the lower court’s decision that this conduct was not likely to mislead or deceive contrary to the Fair Trading Act 1986, nor did it amount to the tort of passing off.

Samsung Bioepis has successfully opposed Janssen Biotech’s AU2019346134 patent application for methods of treating ulcerative colitis with ustekinumab (Stelara®). Samsung invalidated all of the AU134 claims on the grounds of lack of novelty and obviousness.