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European Commission fines AliExpress EUR550M under the DSA
On July 31, 2026, the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency published an update covering an EU Commission decision under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
The EU Commission imposed an EUR550M fine on AliExpress, finding non-compliance with DSA risk assessment and mitigation obligations for very large online platforms under Articles 34 and 35, in relation to systemic risks from illegal, unsafe, or counterfeit products.
The EU Commission found AliExpress inadequately assessed resourcing for listing review, overestimated detection and removal effectiveness, allowed illegal products to remain available for weeks, and had inadequate measures for repeat sanctioned traders and brand authorization against counterfeits. The decision did not determine whether any specific listing infringed IP rights.
The EU Commission ordered AliExpress to submit an action plan by October 20, 2026, and stated that failure to comply may lead to periodic penalty payments, while June 2025 commitments remain binding and independently monitored.
This follows the European Commission's EUR200M fine against Temu under the Digital Services Act in May 2026 for similar failures to assess and mitigate the risk of illegal products on its platform, indicating a clear pattern of enforcement action by the Commission against online marketplaces under the DSA's VLOP regime.
EU
EUIPO rejects LUX EU trade mark application
On July 31, 2026, the EUIPO rejected pop singer Rosalía’s application to register the EU word mark LUX (in relation to her recent album) No. 019198973 for goods and services in Classes 9, 25, and 41.
The EUIPO refused registration under Articles 7(1)(b), 7(1)(c), and 7(2) of the EU Trade Mark Regulation, finding that Romanian-speaking consumers would understand “lux” primarily as a promotional reference to luxury, elegance, refinement, or superior quality, and that an objection in one EU Member State is sufficient to block an EU trade mark.
The EUIPO found alternative meanings such as “lux” as illumination, Latin for “light”, prior registrations, and a UKIPO acceptance were not determinative. An appeal may be filed within two months of notification with grounds due within four months.
EU
EUIPO registers “Joyería de Córdoba” as Spain's first craft and industrial geographical indication
On July 29, 2026, EUIPO registered “Joyería de Córdoba” as a craft and industrial geographical indication under the EU-wide system administered by EUIPO, which became operational on December 1, 2025.
The registration grants EU-wide protection in all 27 EU Member States as a shared intellectual property right against misuse, imitation, and misleading commercial practices, including on online marketplaces.
Only producers operating within the municipality of Córdoba and complying with the registered product specification may use the protected name.
The protected indication covers jewelery including rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and other pieces made from gold, silver, or platinum, which may include pearls, stones, or enamel, and it requires all production and packaging stages to occur within the defined geographical area.
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