20 February 2012
The EPO's examination practice in the field of patent applications for plants is much observed in the public, and frequently gives rise to queries about individual cases, the applicable law and number involved. One such case is the so-called "Melon"-patent which the EPO granted in May 2010 and against the grant of which oppositions were filed.
In a dedicated set of FAQs, the EPO informs on the patent, the legal basis for the grant of patents in the plant sector and on the number of patents applied for and granted in which plants are concerned. The document is intended to provide clarity on the framework in which the EPO acts, and to shed light on some points of interest in an area which has turned out to be of particular interest to the public.
