Annual report 2011

Key trends and detailed statistics, a report on the Office's strategy and activities, plus a video message from Benoît Battistelli

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Archive 2011

1.12.2011
EPO and Chinese patent office strengthen their co-operation for the benefit of the users of the global patent system

Meeting in South-West China for their 5th Heads of Office Conference, the President of the European Patent Office (EPO), Benoît Battistelli, and the Commissioner of the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China (SIPO), Tian Lipu, engaged in in-depth discussions in how to enhance their co-operation, and signed a work programme.

29.11.2011
Major breakthrough in enhancement of the global patent system: EPO and SIPO sign agreement on Chinese-English machine translation for patents

The European Patent Office and the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China at their annual bilateral co-operation meeting held in Chongqing signed an agreement which will have a striking impact for the improvement of the global patent system and the dissemination of technological information in the world.

10.11.2011
The Trilateral Patent Offices agree on milestones at their annual conference

Meeting for their Annual Trilateral Conference near Paris, France, the heads of the European Patent Office (EPO), the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) - collectively known as the Trilateral Offices - progressed in their efforts to further harmonise patent systems around the globe by agreeing on steps to enhance efficiency in patent-related procedures between the three regions.

9.11.2011
Wim Van der Eijk appointed Vice-President of the European Patent Office

The Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation has appointed Wim Van der Eijk to the position of Vice-President of the European Patent Office (EPO). The 54-year-old Dutchman will be in charge of the EPO's Directorate-General Appeals. He succeeds Peter Messerli of Switzerland, who retires at the end of November. The appointment is for five years from 1 December 2011.

7.11.2011
Oral proceedings on the "tomato" patent

On 8 November, a technical board of appeal is holding public oral proceedings on the "tomato" patent (EP 1211926). They are part of an appeal case which will result in a decision to maintain the patent, possibly in amended form, or to revoke it altogether.

25.10.2011
"Broccoli" patent hearing cancelled

The EPO technical board of appeal dealing with the appeal against the "broccoli" patent has cancelled the oral hearing scheduled for 26 October in response to the changed circumstances resulting from the parties' filing of amended requests.

25.10.2011
EPO and USPTO launch a new website for the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) Project

CPC is a joint project aimed at developing a classification scheme for inventions that will be used by both offices in the search and examination of patent applications.

6.10.2011
EPO President Battistelli and European Commissioner Barnier renew their commitment to cost-efficient European patents

The President of the European Patent Office (EPO), Benoît Battistelli, met with European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, Michel Barnier, at the EPO headquarters in Munich today to discuss the planned introduction of a unitary patent aimed at improving the European patent system and better serving the needs of European industry.

13.9.2011
EU and China celebrate successful co-operation on intellectual property protection

The EU and China report positive results of their co-operation from 2007 to 2011 and sign joint conclusions to continue collaboration.

19.7.2011
A true partnership for stronger Intellectual Property protection in China

From 2007 to 2011, the EU-China IPR2 Project reports successful cooperation between EU and China

30.6.2011
European Patent Office to erect a new building in Rijswijk

At its regular June meeting held in The Hague, the Administrative Council (AC) of the European Patent Organisation endorsed a proposal from the President of the European Patent Office (EPO), Benoît Battistelli, to erect a new building next to its existing premises in the Plaspoelpolder at Rijswijk.

28.6.2011
EPO again tops patent quality list

The EPO was ranked first for patent quality among the world's five largest patent offices for the second consecutive year in a survey of corporate and private practice IP professionals.

17.6.2011
EPO and San Marino co-operate on IP development

In his first official visit to the Republic of San Marino, the President of the European Patent Office (EPO), Benoît Battistelli, is meeting with representatives of government, academia and industry, to discuss how to further strengthen the country's intellectual property system, in particular with the support of the San Marino Patent and Trademark Office.

15.6.2011
The EPO and its member states meet in Bratislava to review their co-operation policy

The European Patent Office (EPO) and the member states of the European Patent Organisation are meeting in Bratislava on 14-15 June to discuss how to bring co-operation forward in a number of areas in order to improve the quality and efficiency of the European patent system, and thus better serve industry.

19.5.2011
The European Inventor Award 2011 goes to pioneers in medical research and implant technology, clean energy, construction and water purification

The winners of the 2011 edition of European Inventor Award are: Per-Ingvar Brånemark (Sweden - Lifetime Achievement); Ann Lambrechts, Bekaert (Belgium - Industry), Jens Dall Bentzen, Dall Energy Aps (Denmark - SMEs); Christine Van Broeckhoven, Vlaams Interuniversitair Instituut voor Biotechnologie (Belgium - Research); Ashok Gadgil and Vikas Garud, University of California/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, WaterHealth International (Non-European countries - USA/India).

13.5.2011
Euro-Tunisian partnership to benefit the patent system

EPO and INNORPI sign a memorandum of understanding and a working plan for bilateral co operation.

6.5.2011
EPO and ITU cooperate to improve transparency in patents and ICT standards

The agreement recognises the need for standards makers to share information to help improve the quality of patents.

4.5.2011
EPO and OHIM agree closer cooperation on IP

Benoît Battistelli and OHIM President Antonio Campinos signed an MoU.

13.4.2011
Number of patent applications in Europe hits all-time high

Filings at the European Patent Office grew by 11% in 2010

12.4.2011
EPO and Lithuania co-operate on developing the European patent system

In his first official visit to Lithuania since taking office, the President of the European Patent Office (EPO), Benoît Battistelli, met with Lithuanian Minister of Justice, Remigijus Šimašius, to discuss how to further strengthen the country's intellectual property system, in particular with the support of the State Patent Bureau (SPB).

24.3.2011
European Patent Office and Google Break the Language Barrier for Europe’s Innovators

European companies, inventors and scientists to benefit from free, real-time translation from and to 32 languages, enabling faster and more cost-effective patent research  

3.3.2011
European inventors once again set global innovation standards

Whether high-stability deformable concrete, adjustable spectacle lenses, water purification with ultraviolet light, highly efficient biomass combustion, transmission amplifiers for optical fibre cables or methods for diagnosing Alzheimer's genes: the fifteen nominations for the European Inventor Award 2011 cover a vast span of pioneering technological solutions. Europe's most prestigious innovation prize will be awarded in five categories on 19 May in Budapest. With their talent for innovation, Europe's inventors benefit society as a whole, says EPO President Benoît Battistelli.

1.3.2011
Improved services for Europe's innovation community

New structure, design and search engines – the EPO website puts the needs of professional users in focus

11.2.2011
Prominent jury for European Inventor Award 2011

Jerzy Buzek, Wolfgang Heckl, Bowman Heiden, Emma Marcegaglia, Ernö Rubik, Margarita Salas Falgueras and Thierry Sueur to decide on Europe's inventors of the year

26.1.2011
10% up – patent applications at the EPO on the rise again

The European Patent Office (EPO) received 232 000 European patent filings in 2010, 10% up on the 2009 figure (211 000).

13.1.2011
Taking EPO-ASEAN relations to strategic level

6th ASEAN-EPO Heads of Intellectual Property Offices Conference

Archive 2010

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