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Gaming

French Publisher Dear Villagers Confirms Layoffs

French game publisher Dear Villagers, known for managing the intellectual property of titles such as *Caravan SandWitch* and *The Forgotten City*, has reduced its workforce by approximately 15 employees. This decision, announced on September 21, 2026, follows a reorganization by its owner, Plug In Digital, in response to a volatile video game market [Game Developer](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/french-publisher-dear-villagers-confirms-layoffs). The move highlights the ongoing challenges in the sector, where innovation and adaptability are crucial for survival.

Letizia Giugliano

Gaming

King Workers to Strike Over Collective Agreement Negotiations

Unionized employees at King, the developer behind the popular mobile game Candy Crush, are preparing for a strike on September 25, 2026. This action follows the breakdown of negotiations for a collective agreement, with workers seeking enhanced job security and greater influence over workplace terms [Game Developer](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/production/king-workers-call-strike-after-collective-agreement-negotiations-stall). This dispute highlights ongoing labor discussions within the gaming industry, even at companies known for significant product innovation.

Giovanni Sapere

Norms & Regulation

German Supreme Court Sets High Bar for Abstract Color Trademarks

The German Supreme Court has clarified the stringent requirements for securing trademark protection for abstract color marks based on acquired distinctiveness. This ruling emphasizes the difficulty for businesses to establish that a color alone functions as a source indicator rather than merely a decorative element, impacting intellectual property strategies for brand identity.

Letizia Giugliano

Gadget

Ring Smart Lock Features Hand Crank for Power Outages

Ring, known for its smart home devices, is introducing a new Smart Lock designed to alleviate common user anxieties about power failures. Developed by founder Jamie Siminoff, this device incorporates a hand crank to ensure functionality even when the battery is depleted, integrating with the broader Amazon smart home ecosystem.

Letizia Giugliano

Gaming

Unreal Fest Gathers Game Developers in Chicago

Unreal Fest is an annual event bringing together creators and developers from various industries to foster innovation in game development. Scheduled for June 16 to June 18, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois, it aims to facilitate the exchange of ideas and collaboration among professionals [Game Developer](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/events/unreal-fest). The gathering is designed to help participants supercharge their projects and expand their professional networks.

Letizia Giugliano

Patents

AAFA Urges USTR to List U.S. Platforms for Counterfeiting

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has formally requested the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to include major online platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, in its 2026 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy (NML) report. This move aims to enhance the protection of intellectual property and prevent the sale of dangerous counterfeit goods to consumers [IPWatchdog]. The AAFA represents over 1,100 apparel, footwear, and sewn products brands, highlighting the significant impact of counterfeiting on their industry and public safety [IPWatchdog].

Giovanni Sapere

Motors

EU's EV4EU Project Advances Bidirectional EV Charging

The European Union's EV4EU project has concluded its four-year effort, delivering key innovation in electric vehicle charging. This initiative focused on developing bidirectional charging solutions, which allow electric cars to not only draw power from the grid but also feed it back. The project's outcomes aim to enhance the adaptability of power systems by leveraging the energy stored in electric vehicle batteries [Electrive](https://www.electrive.com/2026/10/10/ev4eu-project-advances-bidirectional-charging/).

Giovanni Sapere

Gadget

Microsoft Transforms Windows Search into AI Chatbot

Microsoft is set to overhaul its Windows Search menu, transforming it into a chatbot-like interface that will allow users to control system settings and interact with the Copilot app using natural language commands. This innovation is scheduled to roll out this fall, aiming to streamline user interaction with the Windows operating system [Engadget].

Letizia Giugliano

Music

Bowie80: A Year-Long Celebration of David Bowie's Legacy

David Bowie, who passed away in 2016, would have celebrated his 80th birthday on January 8, 2027. To honor this milestone, a year-long global celebration, branded as Bowie80, has been announced, commencing this week and extending into 2028 and 2029. This extensive program of events, releases, and collaborations represents an innovative approach to commemorating the artist's enduring legacy and managing his intellectual property [Music Ally](https://musically.com/2026/10/07/david-bowies-80th-birthday-gets-a-year-long-bowie80-celebration/).

Giovanni Sapere

Gaming

gamescom Event Noted by Game Developer

The international gaming event, gamescom, is listed by the publisher Game Developer [Game Developer](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/events/gamescom). While gamescom is a significant gathering for the gaming industry, the provided source does not offer specific information regarding any new invention, patent filings, or detailed technological innovation presented at the event.

Letizia Giugliano

Norms & Regulation

German Supreme Court Raises Bar for Abstract Color Trademarks

The German Supreme Court has recently issued a significant ruling, making it more challenging to obtain trademark protection for abstract color marks based on acquired distinctiveness [The IPKat](http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5574479/posts/default/903164312701155405). This development underscores the evolving landscape of intellectual property law, a theme also explored in a new academic handbook on upcycling [The IPKat](http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5574479/posts/default/2308835532720489033).

Giovanni Sapere

Motors

Bucharest Secures €87 Million for New Electric Public Transport

Bucharest, Romania, has secured significant funding to modernize its public transport. The investment, totaling €87.44 million, will facilitate the acquisition of new electric vehicles, marking a step towards sustainable urban mobility. This initiative aims to enhance the city's transport infrastructure and reduce emissions.

Letizia Giugliano

Gadget

Disney+ to Stream Super Bowl LXI and Monday Night Football

Disney+ will stream Super Bowl LXI on February 14, marking a significant expansion of live sports content on the platform. This innovation in content distribution will also include two Monday Night Football games, starting October 26 with the Philadelphia Eagles hosting the Dallas Cowboys. The initiative aims to make major sporting events accessible to a wider audience, particularly those without traditional network television access [Engadget].

Giovanni Sapere

Music

Spotify Expands Music Quiz Globally, Plans São Paulo Superfan Event

Spotify is expanding its interactive Music Quiz feature to 11 countries, offering quizzes for over 2,000 artists to its Premium subscribers. This move represents an innovation in user engagement, building on earlier tests and previous ventures into music-based gaming. In parallel, the streaming giant announced a "Spotify Superfans Experience" (SFX) event scheduled for early next year in São Paulo, Brazil [Music Ally](https://musically.com/2026/10/07/spotify-expands-music-quiz-and-preps-sao-paulo-superfans-experience/).

Letizia Giugliano

Patents

WIPO Honors Cities for Innovation; EPO Reports High Patent Quality

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) recently announced Charleroi, Liverpool, and Shanghai as the inaugural recipients of its "City of Innovation" award, recognizing their dedication to fostering creativity and innovation within their communities. Concurrently, the European Patent Office (EPO) released its Quality dashboard update for the third quarter of 2026, demonstrating continued high standards in its patent granting process.

Giovanni Sapere

Norms & Regulation

The IPKat Blog Refreshes Its Look at 23

The IPKat blog, a well-known online resource for intellectual property news and analysis, is celebrating its 23rd year with a significant refresh of its visual design and user interface. This update aims to enhance readability and navigation for its global readership, which includes patent attorneys, researchers, and inventors.

Letizia Giugliano

Gadget

Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra: Power for AI Developers

Microsoft has unveiled the Surface Laptop Ultra, a new premium laptop designed for artificial intelligence developers and power users. This device, powered by NVIDIA's RTX Spark platform, aims to deliver substantial processing capabilities, including support for up to 128GB of RAM, to handle large AI models. Its design emphasizes quality and performance, positioning it as a robust option in the high-end laptop market [Engadget].

Giovanni Sapere

Music

US Copyright Board to Set Streaming Music Royalties

The US Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) has initiated the Phonorecords V proceeding, a critical process to establish mechanical royalty rates for music streaming services over the next five years. This week marks the submission of written testimonies and rate proposals from digital service providers (DSPs) and music publishers, highlighting the ongoing debate about fair compensation for intellectual property in the digital music landscape [Music Ally](https://musically.com/2026/10/07/dima-hopes-for-timely-resolution-of-phonorecords-v-proceeding/).

Letizia Giugliano