Posts Tagged: epo
The To DO List for the Unitary Patent Package
The sunrise period for opting out traditional European patents is planned to start on 1 September 2017. Since such opt-outs will now be done electronically through the UPC case …
European Patent Office grants more patents to US companies than ever before
The number of patents granted to US companies by the European Patent Office (EPO) grew by 46.7% in 2016, the highest increase in ten years, and a new record …
Flexible problem-solution analysis for drafters with Europe in mind
The problem-solution paradigm has become a cornerstone of patentability in Europe. If the invention cannot be reduced to the format of a technical solution to a technical …
The quest for patent quality: European inventive step and US obviousness
In Europe and the US, patentability depends on a showing of inventiveness that is based on similar legal requirements but practice differs substantially and the resulting patent …
Minimizing costs while ensuring foreign patent maintenance fees are timely paid
A few years ago, a clearly irritated client asked me why European maintenance fees were so expensive. Apparently, he had consulted the EPO schedule of fees and …
Improving efficiency of the examination process for patents worldwide
The IP5 is the name given to a forum of the five largest intellectual property offices in the world that was set-up to improve the efficiency of …
Record year in 2015 for EPO patent filings on big increases from U.S., Chinese companies
The European Patent Office (EPO) announced earlier today that the overall number of European patent applications filed at the EPO rose in 2015 to 160,000. This represents an increase …
After Searching: Patent Filing Options and PCT ISAs
According to WIPO data, USPTO, EPO and KIPO are major ISAs for U.S. applicants; about 94% of intentional searches have been done by these three patent offices. …
US No. 1 in Patent Filings at the European Patent Office
Patent filings at the European Patent Office (EPO) hit a new record in 2013, with applications coming from the US growing by 2.8% (2012: +5.1%). Last year US companies deposited 64 967, or 24.5%, …
World’s Five Largest Intellectual Property Offices (IP5) Meet in Silicon Valley
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) hosted a meeting of the heads of the world’s five largest …
The Unified European Patent: What it Means for International Enterprises Seeking Protection on the Continent
On February 19, 24 members of the 27 European Union signed a unified patent court agreement in Brussels, Belgium. Bulgaria is expected to sign once it completes internal administrative procedures, …
Proposed Changes to the Hong Kong Patent System
In 2011, an Advisory Committee (AC) was instructed by the Hong Kong Government to conduct a review of the Hong Kong Patent System. On 7 February 2013, the AC issued …
USPTO and EPO Announce Launch of Cooperative Patent Classification System
An ambitious harmonization effort, CPC is the product of a joint partnership between the USPTO and the EPO to develop a common, internationally compatible classification system for …
Europe Achieves Historic Agreement on Unitary Patent
The European patent with unitary effect (unitary patent) in the 25 participating states is based on two regulations, one creating the instrument, and one on the applicable language …
International Patent Cooperation: Trilateral Conference and IP5
These IP5 Offices together handle approximately 80% of the world’s patent applications. The IP5 began meeting in 2007 and have since worked together to explore ways to further …
