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European Patent Network
The European Patent Network was set up as a result of the strategy debate (June 2004 - June 2006) on co-operation between the EPO and the national IP offices of the member states. The new co-operation initiatives by the partners in the Network are designed to improve the efficiency of Europe's patent system.
The Network has four main pillars: the Utilisation Pilot Project, a new Co-Operation Policy, the Customer Service Project and the Quality Project.
Completed in December 2008, the Utilisation Pilot Project enabled EPO examiners processing European patent applications that claim priority from a first filing to make appropriate use of work already carried out by national patent offices on national filings.
The new Co-operation Policy will focus - among other things - on harmonising national practice, long-term training of patent office staff, use of databases and other tools, and raising patent awareness in member countries. In that way, the European patent system will help to promote innovation and economic growth. The PATLIB (Patent information centres) network will play a crucial role in this.
Working groups have been or will be set up to prepare the remaining projects. The Customer Service Project will enhance the EPO's support for services provided by national patent offices to users of the patent system, including "standard" and "special" searches. The purpose of the Quality Project is to review existing quality systems in the institutions of the Network and prepare a set of minimum standards they should implement.