ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL
Reports on meetings of the Administrative Council
Report on the 77th meeting of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation (Munich, 13 October 1999)
The Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation held its 77th meeting in Munich on 13 October 1999, with Sean Fitzpatrick (IE) presiding.
The Council elected Roland GROSSENBACHER, head of the Swiss delegation, as its chairman for three years from 5 March 2000, and José MOTA MAIA, head of the Portuguese delegation, as its deputy chairman for the same term.
It also elected Friedrich SOHS (AT) as chairman of the Building Committee for three years from 5 December 1999, and Paul LAURENT (BE) as chairman of the Committee on Patent Law for three years from 13 October 1999.
The Council authorised the President to enter into negotiations with non-European states interested in signing co-operation agreements with the Organisation permitting validation of European patents for their territory. Users of the European patent system could then enjoy its well-known advantages in the countries concerned by validating their European patents under conditions similar to those already available under the extension procedure for European countries not party to the EPC.
The Council approved proposed amendments to the EPC Implementing Regulations (see page 660 below). Further to the Intergovernmental Conference held in Paris on 24 and 25 June 1999, it also mandated two experts to produce an opinion on the pros and cons of introducing into European patent law a grace period for prior disclosure.