Insights

[1] In a recent development, the UK Supreme Court ruled that Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) are not excluded from patentability due to being a computer program “as such.” In doing so, the Court set out the framework of a new test for the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) to use when evaluating the patentability of computer. The ruling breaks down barriers to the patenting of AI algorithms in the UK and paves the way for a wider change in the UK IPO’s approach to assessing excluded subject matter.

In March 2026, the UK Government published its Fraud Strategy 2026–2029, part of a broader economic-crime policy package building on the Economic Crime Plan 2 (March 2023) and the Anti-Corruption Strategy, published in December 2025. The strategy's headline message for fraud victims is striking: do not wait for the state to act, but rather, seek redress from the court yourself.

On 26 February 2026, the EU published Directive (EU) 2026/470 (the Omnibus I Directive). Adopted as part of the European Commission's (Commission) simplification agenda and after a year of debates and negotiations between the Commission, the Council, and the European Parliament, this text effectuates far-reaching changes to both the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D).

Clinical trial sponsors and all other stakeholders involved in conducting commercial clinical trials of investigational medicinal products (IMP) in the UK.

From 1 April 2026, a major new transparency requirement under the Procurement Act 2023 will take effect pursuant to the Procurement Act 2023 (Commencement No. 4) Regulations 2025.

The UK’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has launched a call for evidence concerning the "ownership and control" test within UK financial sanctions. The call for evidence, running until 11:59 p.m. on 13 April 2026, seeks stakeholder views on the challenges and implementation of the "control" limb, with particular focus on its hypothetical element.

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) recently issued consultation paper CP26/5, proposing to replace the existing Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) requirements with new rules mandating listed companies to report against the UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS). These are based on the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards developed by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB).

The Pilot codifies the position at common law, set out by Lady Hale in Cape Intermediate Holdings Ltd v Dring [2019] UKSC 38, which permits the public the right of access to documents placed before a court and referenced in a public hearing[4]. This Pilot will apply to cases heard in the Commercial Court, the London Circuit Commercial Court (King’s Bench Division), and the Financial List (Commercial Court and Chancery Division)[5].

On November 4, 2025, the USPTO in Ex parte Desjardins designated as precedential an earlier Appeals Review Panel (ARP) decision overruling the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (Board), instead holding that claims directed to training a machine learning model are patent-eligible under 35 U.S.C. § 101 when they integrate a mathematical concept into a practical application that improves how the model operates. That precedential designation represents a material shift in legal precedent in the § 101 arena post-Alice, and it has already driven updates to the MPEP and examiner practice. As a result, Desjardins signals an adjustment in practice in favor of AI and software eligibility at the USPTO.

On November 12, 2025, Judge King in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington granted in part Haldiram India Ltd.’s (“Plaintiff” or “Haldiram”) motion for a preliminary injunction against Punjab Trading, Inc. (“Defendant” or “Punjab Trading”), a seller alleged to be importing and distributing gray market snack food products not authorized for sale in the United States. The court found that Haldiram was likely to succeed on the merits of its trademark infringement claim because the products at issue, which were intended for sale in India, were materially different from the versions intended for sale in the U.S., and for this reason were not genuine products when sold in the U.S. Although the court narrowed certain overbroad provisions in the requested order, it ultimately enjoined Punjab Trading from importing, selling, or assisting others in selling the non-genuine Haldiram products in the U.S. market.

Major changes have been proposed to EU AI, data and wider digital laws. On 19th November 2025, the European Union Commission issued its much anticipated Digital Omnibus Regulation Proposal, (the “Digital Omnibus”) and also its Digital Omnibus on AI Regulation Proposal, (the “AI Omnibus”). The mooted changes potentially impact the “Brussels effect” seen post GDPR and add potential complexities to the compliance efforts of businesses.

President Trump is preparing to sign an Executive Order that would seek to forestall state regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) by threatening federal lawsuits and the withholding of some federal funds. The draft, unsigned six-page Executive Order, “Eliminating State Law Obstruction of National AI Policy” (EO), the text of which has been circulating publicly since November 19, would declare it the policy of the Administration “to sustain and enhance America’s global AI dominance through a minimally burdensome, uniform national policy framework for AI.”

On 12 November, the highly anticipated Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill (“Bill”) was introduced to Parliament, representing a significant expansion and modernisation of the UK’s cyber security rules. Building on the foundation set by the Network & Information Systems Regulations 2018 (“NIS”), the Bill aims to enhance national security and safeguard essential services. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (“DSIT”) has published a policy paper detailing the Bill’s objectives.

The UK’s cyber threat landscape continues to evolve, with the rapid emergence of new technologies introducing novel risks across all sectors and attacks escalating in frequency and sophistication. Regulatory bodies and the UK Government have intensified their focus on cyber security and resilience, as evidenced by the latest National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) 2025 annual review (Review) and the proposed UK Cyber Security and Resilience Bill (Bill), alongside recent developments in ransomware regulation.

The United States, European Union, and United Kingdom have significantly escalated Russia-related sanctions the past month, including the Trump Administration’s first sanctions directly imposed on Russia. These coordinated actions—which particularly target the Russian energy sector—indicate that Russia sanctions remain on the geopolitical agenda and require multinational companies to remain vigilant in their compliance with those sanctions.

Researchers have identified a new wave of cybersecurity attacks against European drone makers by the Lazarus Group, a well-known and sophisticated threat actor group, allegedly sponsored by the North Korean government.

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) brings major changes to UK company law and the operation of Companies House. Whether you are a UK business, an LLP, or an international organisation with UK operations, these reforms will affect your compliance obligations and the way you manage company records. The ECCTA aims to strengthen the UK’s response to corporate and economic crime by improving transparency and accountability across all entities registered or operating in the UK.

The UK’s increased defence spending and zero-tariff trade on aircraft parts with the US is generating broad interest in the UK defence sector.

Last year, the California General Assembly passed the California AI Transparency Act (CAITA), which Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law on September 19, 2024, and goes into effect on January 1, 2026. This may change because this year, the same General Assembly passed AB 853, an amendment to CAITA with potentially far-reaching implications.

On 18 September, during the anticipated state visit, the leaders of the UK and the US signed the Technology Prosperity Deal, which promises to boost investment and cooperation to foster innovation, security, and economic prosperity. This is being lauded in the UK as a hugely significant milestone in transatlantic cooperation. The governments of both countries have released a Memorandum of Understanding (“Memo”) which covers a number of ambitious plans in strategic science and technology fields, including artificial intelligence (“AI”), nuclear energy, fusion, and quantum technologies.