2007

Croatia and Norway join the European Patent OrganisationCroatia and Norway have ratified the European Patent Convention (EPC) and will become the newest members of the European Patent Organisation on 1 January 2008. This brings the total number of member states to 34.

Council of the European Patent Organisation backs a comprehensive strategy to tackle workload The Council of the European Patent Organisation has backed a strategic approach to handling future workload in the European patent system. The proposal is outlined in a study presented by the Board of the Organisation's Administrative Council and was endorsed at the Administrative Council's meeting on 14 December.

New convention for European patentsAfter years of intensive negotiations and preparations, the revised European Patent Convention (EPC) enters into force today, providing Europe with a new legal framework for patent protection.

EPO revokes patent for "electronic ordering system" The European Patent Office (EPO) has revoked the US firm Amazon's patent relating to a "method for placing an order via a computer system" after a hearing in opposition proceedings.

Oral proceedings in the opposition concerning Amazon’s "Gift Ordering" PatentOn Friday, 7 December 2007, at 9AM, the European Patent Office (EPO) building at Bayerstrasse 34 in Munich will be the site of oral proceedings as part of the opposition procedure concerning European patent EP 0 927 945, held by online merchant Amazon.

Technical Board of Appeal revokes Astra Zeneca's patent EP0613371 on “New combination of formoterol and budesonide"In the appeal case against the European patent EP0613371 ("Astra Zeneca/Asthma inhaler") the competent Technical Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office (EPO) has, at the end of public oral proceedings, announced its decision to revoke the patent in suit.

Board of Appeal confirms amended patent on breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility gene after public hearingA Technical Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office (EPO) has decided that European patent EP 705902 is to be maintained in amended form. The patent, co-owned by the University of Utah Research Foundation and the United States of America, relates to testing for a predisposition for breast and ovarian cancer.

Productivity benchmarking study in the patent grant procedure publishedThe European Patent Office (EPO), the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) and the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO) have published an independent study which benchmarks productivity in the patent grant procedure at the three offices.

Alison Brimelow takes over as President of the European Patent OfficeAlison Brimelow took up her duties as President of the European Patent Office (EPO) on 1 July. A UK national, she succeeds Alain Pompidou, who has headed the EPO since July 2004.

Filings at the European Patent Office continue to grow In 2006, the European Patent Office (EPO) received a record total of around 207 300 patent applications, 5% up on the previous year (2005: 197 400). There was also a rise of 5%, from 128 000 to 135 200, in the number of new grant proceedings instituted before the EPO.

Soybean patent revoked in appeal proceedingsAt a hearing today, a Technical Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office (EPO) revoked patent EP 301749 B1, owned by Monsanto, for the genetic modification of soybean plants.

Anhörung im Beschwerdeverfahren gegen ein Patent zur gentechnischen Veränderung von Sojapflanzen im Europäischen PatentamtAm 3. Mai findet im Europäischen Patentamt (EPA) die mündliche Verhandlung im Beschwerdeverfahren zu einem Patent der Firma Monsanto statt, in dem es um ein Verfahren zur gentechnischen Veränderung von Sojapflanzen geht. Dabei gilt es zu entscheiden, ob das Patent geändert oder widerrufen wird.

"An incomplete European patent system puts European businesses at a competitive disadvantage"The European Commission today expressed its support for rapid introduction of the Community patent to strengthen the competitiveness of European industry across the world.

European Inventor of the Year Awards 2007: Biodegradable plastics, vehicle safety, medicinal breakthroughsThe inventors of biodegradable plastics, the airbag’s sensor technology, anti-Aids drugs and treatments for autoimmune disorders are the winners of the European Inventor of the Year 2007 awards.

European Patent Forum, 18 and 19 April 2007 in MunichWith a focus on the global patent system, nearly 400 experts from industry, government and public bodies, science and research, professional associations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will be discussing the future of intellectual property protection / "Scenarios" study by the EPO looks at possible developments up to 2025 / Keynote speeches by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU Commissioner Günter Verheugen.

Dutchman Peter Vermeij new Vice-President of the European Patent Office (in English and Dutch) Munich, 13 March 2007 - - The Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation has decided to appoint Peter A. Vermeij as new Vice-President of the Directorate-General 2, Operational Support, of the European Patent Office (EPO).

European Inventor of the Year 2007The nominees' successful inventions have strengthened Europe's technological and economic standing. The European Inventor of the Year 2007 awards will be presented on 18 April.

Malta becomes 32nd member state of European Patent OrganisationThe European patent system continues to grow: Malta's accession to the European Patent Convention brings the number of member states in the European Patent Organisation to 32, including all the member states of the European Union. Apart from the Organisation's member states, its observer states Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia also recognise European patent applications and patents on their territory.