
In a new job - January 20, 2017
Carl Josefsson appointed President of the Boards of Appeal
The Administrative Council (AC) of the European Patent Organisation has appointed Carl Josefsson from Sweden as the first President of the Boards of Appeal (BoA). A new location for the BoA was also approved by the Member States. Both measures are being taken as an important part of the institutional reforms adopted in June 2016 to […]

Legal Advice article - July 4, 2016
Medical technology top field for patent applications
The European Patent Office’s annual report showed an increase in the number of patent filings and the field of medtech is once again on top of the list. The number of European patent filings grew again in 2015, reaching a new high of nearly 279 000. The EPO’s 2015 annual report also shows that the […]

Legal Advice article - June 14, 2016
The European Inventor Award 2016
The EPO showcased the best and brightest in innovation on June 9th at the European Inventor Award 2016 ceremony in Lisbon. Now in its 11th year, the award is presented annually by the EPO to recognise outstanding inventors from Europe and around the world, who have made an exceptional contribution to social development, technological progress […]

Legal Advice article - December 22, 2015
Unitary Patent ready to go
On proposal of the European Patent Office (EPO), the Select Committee which represents the EU member states participating in the new Unitary Patent, has formalized a series of agreements into a complete secondary legal framework comprising the implementing rules, budgetary and financial rules, the level of the renewal fees and the rules concerning the distribution […]

Intellectual Property - November 12, 2015
Another milestone towards the UPC
On October 1st, seven EU member states signed the Protocol on the Provisional Application of the Agreement on the Unified Patent Court. In addition, a number of other states affirmed their support and are expected to sign the protocol soon. The protocol is another milestone towards the realization of the Unified Patent Court (UPC). The […]