EuropeanPatent Office
The European Patent System serving innovation
Paul SchwanderEPO, The Hague
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Roadmap
• History
• Practical issues
• Facts and figures
• Conclusion
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Patent law:striving for harmonisation
An invention is universal
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Paris Convention 1883
Before: simultaneous filings
After 1883
12 Months
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A bit of history: a European idea
• 1958 Treaty of Rome• 1960 Idea of a European Patent • 1968 Splitted into 2 projects: a European
Convention – the Community Patent• 1973 Convention signed• 1977 European Patent Office
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Example of an international patent procedure when the EPO did not exist
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The Patent filed in 1975
SYSTEMS FOR STORING AND TRANSFERRING DATA
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First filing followed by geographic extensions
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The Smart Card Patent procedure
12 monthsPriority
National patents
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The European Patent System
(National & European) or European Direct
National Patents
Common grant procedure
Priority period
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Grant procedure: Search and Examination
EP822788 Drug Release Coated StentA stent for implantation in a body comprising a tubular metal body (10) having open ends and an open lattice sidewall structure and a layer on the surface of said sidewall structure, said layer comprising a hydrophobic elastomeric material incorporating an amount of biologically active material therein for timed delivery therefrom.
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Prior art search: closest prior art documents
WO9112779
A prosthesis for insertion into a lumen to limit
restenosis of the lumen. The prosthesis carries
restenosis-limiting drugs which elute after the
device is positioned in the lumen.
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Examination
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Granted patent vs. Application
1. A stent for implantation in a body comprising a tubular metal body (10) having open ends and an open lattice sidewall structure and a layer on the surface of said sidewall structure, said layer comprising a hydrophobic elastomeric material incorporating an amount of biologically active material therein for timed delivery therefrom.
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What advantages doesa European patent have?
Unitary protection standards in the contracting states
• One application/one language
• “A la carte” market by designation of countries
Cost-effective
• Costs less than 3 separate national patents
Strong
• Thorough search – 50 million documents
• Substantive examination = sound legal protection
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Average costs: EP Patent 8 countries 10 years
Patent Office 4 300 € 14%
Attorney 6 100 € 20%
Renewal fees 8 900 € 28%
Translation 11 800 € 38%
Total 31 100 €
8.5 € day
100%
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Facts and Figures
•In 2004: 178 000 filings•6 000 staff members – 3 500 examiners•Munich-The Hague-Berlin-Vienna-Brussels•55 million patent documents in its database
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Applicant’s origin
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European Patent Organisation: Member States
The European patent system
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The European PatentOrganisation
European Patent Organisation
European
Patent Office
Administrative
Council
The executive body
The Office's task is to grant European patents.
The legislative body
Important functions:
• to adopt the budget• to approve the President´s actions
in implementing the budget• to amend the Implementing
Regulations and Rules relating to Fees
The Administrative Council consists of delegates from the member states.
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EPO and PCT
• Different: Granted Patent vs. Common file
• Linked: EPO can be an International
Searching Authority and an International
Preliminary Examining Authority
• If you want to delay decisions on geographic
coverage: PCT usually preferred.
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To conclude
• A unexpected success: 5 times more
applications than initially expected
• A continuous harmonisation process
• An application of the subsidiarity
principle
EuropeanPatent Office
Thank you for your attention
www.european-patent-office.org
Paul SchwanderEPO, The Hague11 May 2005