Patenting seminar on inventive step in the fields of biotechnology

The patenting seminars comprise short technical online seminars about specific aspects of substantive examination or search in different technical fields. This year’s third seminar  

focuses on advanced challenges encountered when assessing the inventiveness of an invention in the fields of biotechnology: antibodies, experimental evidence and biological material. 

Each seminar comprises two online sessions: a theoretical session followed by a practical one. The two sessions are usually about one week apart, during which participants and experts can interact via a dedicated forum. 

The first session of the seminar is open to patent examiners and patent attorneys, while the second is reserved for patent examiners only. 

Session 1: Inventive Step in Biotechnology: Where Does the Real Debate Start? 

This session will examine why inventive step in biotechnology is often difficult, even when the legal framework appears straightforward. After briefly revisiting the familiar steps of the problem-solution approach, the focus will shift to the points where real disagreement commonly arises, such as the credibility of alleged technical effects, whether an effect is achieved across the full scope of the claim, whether there is a genuine improvement, the boundary between routine optimisation and invention, and the role of reasonable expectation of success. 

Session 2: Case Studies in Biotech 

This session will focus on practical case studies illustrating the application of the principles discussed on Day 1, with an emphasis on the assessment of inventive step in biotechnology. 

For Professional representatives registration, click here.

For National Patent Office registration, click here.

(Patent examiners are invited to register using a registration code provided by their respective National Office contact person).

Registration is now open.