This week, the EPO’s Economic and Scientific Advisory Board (ESAB) published the results of its activities in 2012, investigating three topics of its own choosing: fee policy, quality and patent [...]
Today saw the publication of the preliminary figures for European patent filings in 2012, which show an increase for the third year in a row. The total of almost 258 [...]
Although biotechnology is important for the economy and society, patenting in this field sometimes faces opposition from the public, especially NGOs. The few cases concerned tend to attract a lot [...]
In Kyoto last week, the Trilateral Offices (JPO, USPTO and EPO) celebrated the 30th anniversary of their cooperation. This was an occasion to review some of the projects completed since [...]
Last Thursday, the EPO released the second batch of languages automatically translated from and into English via the Patent Translate service on our Espacenet website. The new languages are: Danish, [...]
In recent weeks, I have had the opportunity to meet two important delegations of users, one from Japan – with JETRO acting as a co-organiser – and the other from [...]
The decision to bestow the Nobel Prize on the EU was certainly unexpected. But the honour is fully deserved. The award powerfully underlines the essential message of European unity, aside [...]
Last week in Dublin, from 4 to 7 September, the mood was celebratory, with a double anniversary. Dublin Castle was the venue for the 16th European Patent Judges’ Symposium, exactly [...]
Like many of you, I was especially pleased at the outcome of last week’s European Council regarding the proposed European patent court. Agreement was finally reached, at the highest level [...]
Last week, I had the pleasure of taking part in the first meeting of the EPO’s Economic and Scientific Advisory Board (ESAB). This new body is made up of eleven [...]
