Press releases from the European Patent Office. http://www.epo.org/rss/press-releases.xml en European Patent Office website@epo.org website@epo.org Apache Lenya 2.0.x http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20111201.htmlMeeting 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.Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0100http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20111129.htmlThe 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. Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20111110.htmlMeeting 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.Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20111109a.htmlThe 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. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20111107.htmlOn 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.Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20111025a.htmlThe 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. Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0200http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20111025.htmlCPC 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.Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0200http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20111006.htmlThe 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. Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0200http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20110913.htmlThe EU and China report positive results of their co-operation from 2007 to 2011 and sign joint conclusions to continue collaboration. Tue, 13 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0200http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20110719.htmlFrom 2007 to 2011, the EU-China IPR2 Project reports successful cooperation between EU and China Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0200http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20110630.htmlAt 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. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0200http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20110628.htmlThe 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.Tue, 28 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0200http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20110617.htmlIn 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. Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0200http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20110615.htmlThe 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. Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0200http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20110519.htmlThe 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).Thu, 19 May 2011 00:00:00 +0200http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20110513.htmlEPO and INNORPI sign a memorandum of understanding and a working plan for bilateral co operation.Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 +0200http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20110506.htmlThe agreement recognises the need for standards makers to share information to help improve the quality of patents.Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 +0200http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20110504.htmlBenoît Battistelli and OHIM President Antonio Campinos signed an MoU.Wed, 04 May 2011 00:00:00 +0200http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20110413.htmlFilings at the European Patent Office grew by 11% in 2010Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0200http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20110412.htmlIn 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).Tue, 12 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0200http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20110324.htmlEuropean companies, inventors and scientists to benefit from free, real-time translation from and to 32 languages, enabling faster and more cost-effective patent research  Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20110303.htmlWhether 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. Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20110301.htmlNew structure, design and search engines – the EPO website puts the needs of professional users in focusTue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20110211.htmlJerzy Buzek, Wolfgang Heckl, Bowman Heiden, Emma Marcegaglia, Ernö Rubik, Margarita Salas Falgueras and Thierry Sueur to decide on Europe's inventors of the yearFri, 11 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20110126.htmlThe European Patent Office (EPO) received 232 000 European patent filings in 2010, 10% up on the 2009 figure (211 000). Wed, 26 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100http://www.epo.org/news-issues/press/releases/archive/2011/20110113.html6th ASEAN-EPO Heads of Intellectual Property Offices ConferenceThu, 13 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100