Press releases

San Marino becomes 36th member state of the EPOThe Republic of San Marino has acceded to the European Patent Organisation. This means that as of 1 July it is possible to file for patent protection for San Marino through a European patent.

Gifted guardians of life and the environment: Europe honours the inventors of the yearHealth and the environment were the big winners when the European Commission and the European Patent Office presented the 2009 European Inventor of the Year awards.

World Malaria Day (25 April) : Developer of "Coartem" nominated for European Inventor awardAhead of World Malaria Day (25 April), the European Patent Office (EPO) and European Commission have announced that the Chinese scientist who developed a leading anti-malaria treatment marketed under the name Coartem has been nominated for the European Inventor of the Year 2009 award.

World Intellectual Property Day (26 April): EPO, UNEP and ICTSD join forces to look at the role of patents in the development and transfer of technologies to address climate changeOn the occasion of World Intellectual Property Day (26 April), which focuses this year on ‘green innovation’, the European Patent Office (EPO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) have announced their agreement to undertake a joint project to examine the role of patents in the development and transfer of environmentally sound technologies (EST), in particular in the field of energy generation.

European Patent Forum/PATINNOVA 2009 - Prague, 28-30 AprilIn the spotlight: intellectual property and digital technology - International conference on the challenges facing IP protection of innovations in rapidly developing digital industries

"Pig-breeding" patent (EP 1651777) in the spotlightThis European patent, which has been opposed by various groups, organisations and individuals, relates to a breeding method whereby a genetic analysis is carried out to screen for a variation (polymorphism) occurring naturally in some pigs, with a view to identifying those animals suitable for improving pork production and to selecting appropriate breeding pairs.