LEGAL NEWS IN THE SPOTLIGHT | Italian rules on interim IP injunctions aligned with the CJEU’s M.M. Ristorazione ruling

On 12 June 2026, Law Decree No. 100 of 12 June 2026 (the Law Decree) entered into force, amending the regime governing interim injunctions capable of anticipating the effects of a judgment on the merits under the Italian Industrial Property Code and the Italian Copyright Law. The reform follows the CJEU’s judgment of 23 April 2026 in Case C-132/25 (M.M. Ristorazione Srl v Villa Ramazzini Srl), which held that Directive 2004/48/EC on the enforcement of IP rights (the Enforcement Directive) precludes national rules allowing such anticipatory injunctions to remain permanently effective where the claimant does not commence proceedings on the merits. Under the new regime introduced by the Law Decree, an anticipatory interim injunction must be declared ineffective where (a) the party who obtained it fails to commence proceedings on the merits within 31 calendar days of the injunction being granted; and (b) the addressee of the injunction files an application for a declaration of ineffectiveness within a further 30-days term. As regards injunctions granted before the entry into force of the Law Decree, their addressees may apply for their revocation within 60 days from 12 June 2026. The Law Decree is currently before Parliament for conversion into law. Should it be converted without amendment, the new regime is likely to lead to an increase in proceedings on the merits, as most IP right holders who have obtained an interim injunction will commence such proceedings in order to avoid the risk of the injunction being declared ineffective.

Newsletter n. 120 – July 2026