Court practices
After grant, European patents are subject to European and national law. National law applies, in particular, when it comes to enforcement. This can mean divergent outcomes to such litigation in the various jurisdictions of the EPC contracting states. Since there is as yet no common European patent court to ensure a uniform interpretation of European patent law, the harmonisation of case law must be fostered in other ways, not least by establishing informal channels for dialogue.
European Patent Judges' Symposium
To this end, it was decided to establish the biennial European Patent Judges' Symposium as an opportunity for judges specialised in patent law and patent litigation to come together and exchange their views on patent law topics.
The first Patent Judges' Symposium was held in Munich in 1982. This year's symposium, marking the event's 30th anniversary, will be hosted by Ireland in Dublin from 4 to 7 September 2012.