2000

First online filed European patent application The European Patent Office announces the first Online Filing of a European Patent Application , via the Internet having taken place today, on the 08.12.2000 within the framework of epoline®, the European Patent Office´s new e-business range of products and services.

Statement by Dr Roland Grossenbacher, Chairman of the Administrative Council of the European Patent OrganisationThis morning, we have reached the end of nine days of intensive deliberations on the revision of the European Patent Convention concluded in 1973. The delegates of the 20 member states of the European Patent Organisation had to consider a catalogue of nearly 100 proposals for revising provisions of the Convention. The aim of this Conference was to modernise the legal basis of the European patent system, and thereby ensure that it can continue to function efficiently in an increasingly integrated European economy within the framework of world trade, and that it will remain capable of evolving in future. This is an important contribution to strengthening the institutions which underpin the European economy.

EPO Press release 5/00 - Opening of the Diplomatic Conference to revise the EPCToday sees the opening by the 20 member states of the European Patent Organisation of the Diplomatic Conference to revise the European Patent Convention (EPC). Signed in Munich on 5 October 1973, the Convention forms the legal basis for the European Patent Organisation and its executive organ, the European Patent Office. The Revision Conference will be the focal point for a wide-ranging reform of the European patent system aimed, amongst other things, at reducing patenting costs, setting up a European court system and, at EU member state level, establishing the Community patent.

Turkey now a member state of the European Patent OrganisationTurkey has ratified the European Patent Convention (EPC) and becomes a member state of the European Patent Organisation with effect from November. This brings to twenty the number of such states, comprising the fifteen EU countries, and, along with the latest addition, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Monaco and Cyprus.

Diplomatic Conference to revise the European Patent ConventionWork on the modernisation of the European patent system moved one step closer to completion on 7 September, when the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation adopted the Basic Proposal for the Revision of the European Patent Convention (EPC).

Patentability of methods of doing businessThe articles and rules of the European Patent Convention (EPC) relevant to the patentability of business methods and computer programs may be summarized as follows:

The case for and against the introduction of a grace period in European patent lawThe Intergovernmental Conference of the member states of the European Patent Organisation on the reform of the patent system in Europe (Paris, 24 to 25 June 1999) adopted, among other things, a mandate which reads as follows:

Filing figures continue to rise at the European Patent OfficeThe demand for patent protection in Europe continues to flourish. In 1999, applications for European patents totalled 121 750, 7.4% up on the previous year.

Comments on genetic engineeringExcerpt from the address of the President of the EPO, Mr Ingo Kober, on 27 June at the annual press conference of the Office in Munich)

Structure paper of an optional protocol on the settlement of litigation concerning European patentsAt the invitation of the French government, an intergovernmental conference of the member states of the European Patent Organisation on the reform of the patent system in Europe was held in Paris on 24 and 25 June 1999.

One million European patent applications publishedThe European Patent Office (EPO) has published its one millionth European patent application - EP 1 000 000 A1 - which describes an "apparatus for manufacturing green bricks for the brick manufacturing industry". It was filed with the EPO on 8 November 1999 by a Dutch company, Beheermaatschapij De Boer Nijmegen B.V., of Nijmegen. The invention enables bricks to be manufactured with a traditional appearance.

"Neem tree oil" case: European patent No. 0436 257 revokedThe Opposition Division of the European Patent Office responsible for this case has decided to revoke the patent, after two days of oral proceedings in which the patent proprietor, W.R. Grace and the US Department of Agriculture, and the Opponents, two non-Governmental Organisations and one Member of the European Parliament, were heard.

Declaration of the European Patent Office with regard to Patent No. EP 0695351 granted on 8 December 1999The wording of claim No. 48 in the three official languages is as follows: