Standing Advisory Committee before the EPO (SACEPO)
SACEPO is the EPO's main advisory body and is consulted on all major issues relating to the development of the European patent system.
- About SACEPO
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The Standing Advisory Committee before the European Patent Office (SACEPO) was formed in 1978 on the initiative of the first President of the EPO, Bob van Benthem, to involve user representatives in the development of the European patent system. The regular engagement of external stakeholders in the framework of the SACEPO is a valued part of the EPO’s commitment to transparency. The SACEPO enables the EPO to gather feedback from users to better respond to their needs and remain agile in managing the changing demands and conditions of a dynamic and global patent system.
Membership is comprised of representatives from leading industrial property associations and industry federations from all over the world, as well as representatives of European and international patent attorney associations. In addition, the President of the EPO also appoints recognised experts in the field of IP law as ad personam members of the SACEPO. Membership has expanded significantly in recent years, and the EPO now welcomes a group of 180 engaged, active and vocal user representatives from all over the world, reflecting the EPO’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. The members of the SACEPO are nominated for a three-year term of office. The current term of office runs from 2021 to 2023. - Useful links
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European associations
BusinessEurope
epi – European Patent Institute
FEMIPI - European Federation of Intellectual Property Agents in Industry
Union-ip – UNION of European Practitioners in Intellectual PropertyWorldwide associations
AIPPI – International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property
FICPI – International federation of intellectual property attorneysOverseas associations
AIPLA – American Intellectual Property Law Association
ASIPI - Inter-American Association of Intellectual Property
IPO - Intellectual Property Owners Association
JIPA - Japan Intellectual Property Association
JPAA - Japan Patent Attorneys Association
KINPA - Korea Intellectual Property Association
SACEPO and its Working Parties
Five Working Parties have been established within the framework of the SACEPO to address particular areas.
Members' area
For SACEPO Members - everything about SACEPO Main and SACEPO Working Party meetings in one place
Go to members' areaMeetings
SACEPO members meet regularly to discuss major issues relating to the development of the European patent system.
Upcoming and past meetingsUpdates
SACEPO WP/G evaluates the results of the consultation on the Guidelines 2024 and its revision cycle
Newly composed SACEPO Working Party on Rules meets for its first meeting in the 2024-2026 cycle, focussing on proposals supporting quality
President António Campinos appoints 165 user representatives to the EPO’s main advisory body
Members discuss multiple topics including Stakeholder Quality Assurance Panels, EPO quality audits and User Satisfaction Survey
Towards a full digital transformation and PGP simplification
Members filed 187 comments, helping to finalise the 2024 Guidelines editions
SACEPO Working Party on Guidelines discusses users’ comments and improvements
Members of SACEPO Working Party on Rules discussed latest changes
User representatives from Europe, China, Japan, Korea and the United States met online to exchange on digital transformation.
Stay up to date on the latest insights into the quality dialogue between the patent community and the EPO.
The joint assessment at this year’s Stakeholder Quality Assurance Panels is a step towards developing a common understanding of patent quality.
Engaging discussions with users on legal changes to support digital transformation, oral proceedings by VICO, divisional applications, SPLH, etc.
The SACEPO Working Party on Guidelines met to discuss the EPO Guidelines entering into force in March 2023
54th meeting focuses on quality, Unitary Patent and digital transformation
Thanks to all users who contributed to the EC and PCT-EPO Guideline consultation
SACEPO Working Party on Guidelines reviewed the results of the recent public user consultation
SACEPO Working Party on Quality met to improve EPO products and services
SACEPO working party meets to discuss recent advances and future developments in the EPO’s tools and documentation
Legal and IT changes to our patent grant process discussed in SACEPO Working Party on Rules