Conference Report: Zurich IP Retreat 2025 – Small Steps or Giant Leap? Requirements and Scope of Protection in IP Law

This conference report summarizes the discussions of the Zurich IP Retreat 2025, which examined the relationship between the requirements for obtaining intellectual property protection and the corresponding scope of protection across different IP regimes. Through panels dedicated to patent, copyright, design, trademark, and unfair competition law, speakers explored whether symmetry between protection thresholds and enforcement standards exists – and whether it should. Drawing on comparative perspectives from Swiss, EU, and UK law, the retreat highlighted both doctrinal convergences and persistent asymmetries, particularly in areas involving functional subject matter and evolving market realities. The report captures key insights, case law references, and open questions that emerged from the debates, offering a structured overview of current challenges and future directions in IP law.