Opposition Matters 2025

The European Patent Office (EPO) and the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office (epi) hosted Opposition Matters, an important online event for patent professionals focusing on opposition proceedings.

Over 1 300 participants registered to attend the event from around the world. Over the course of the two-half day programme, from 18 to 19 September, experts from both the EPO and the epi delivered sessions covering the most pressing issues in opposition proceedings. These sessions highlighted strategic considerations and emerging trends shaping the field.

Opposition Matters is the EPO's leading event for professional users wanting to keep up to date with the latest and most relevant developments in opposition proceedings. Speakers from several EPO departments, co-presenting alongside experienced European patent attorneys, provided insights into the best practices they have developed over years of opposition experience.

One session of particular note examined the impact of, and interplay between, opposition proceedings before the EPO and revocation/infringement proceedings before the UPC. Another keynote focused on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in opposition proceedings, while a further session provided a detailed exploration of the admissibility of auxiliary requests, addressing their strategic implications in EPO opposition proceedings.

The Opposition Matters conference forms an integral part of the EPO’s continued collaboration with the epi, underscoring the EPO’s commitment to offering patent professionals high-quality, up-to-date training and insights, as outlined in the Strategic Plan 2028. The event provided a valuable platform for sharing practical strategies and fostering a dynamic exchange of knowledge between the EPO and its partners. It also supports the EPO’s overarching goals by promoting professional development and contributing to a transparent, inclusive, and high-quality patent system.