Our pages ‘UK Patents - The Basics’ and ‘European Patents - The Basics’ set out in detail the various procedural steps involved in obtaining UK and...
Compensation of Inventors According to the Principles of the German Compensation Guidelines
Type (lump sum or instalments) and amount of compensation are determined by an agreement between the employer and employee. The calculation of a...
Designation, Extension and Validation States for European Patent Applications
This information is available in Korean.
For European patent applications filed since 2009, all available EPC “member states” are automatically...
EPC 2000
In November 2000, a conference was held to discuss possible amendments to the European Patent Convention (EPC). This was the first major review of...
EPO Oppositions
This information is available in Japanese, Chinese and Korean.
Find out more about our opposition services and why Mewburn Ellis is Europe's number...
European Grant Procedure
Download Grant Procedure flow chart
This information is also available in Japanese, Chinese and Korean
When the European Patent Office (EPO) agrees...
European Patents - The Basics
Download flowchart - European Patents - The Basics
This is information is also available in Japanese, Chinese and Korean
Historically, to obtain a...
Extended European Search Reports
This information is available in Korean.
The search report from the European Patent Office is accompanied by an opinion on the patent application and...
Oral Proceedings
This information is available in Korean.
“Oral proceedings” refers to a hearing at which one or more parties to proceedings before the EPO present...
Patentability of Software and Business Method Inventions in Europe
This information is available in Korean.
This page describes the current approach of the European Patent Office (EPO) concerning the patentability of...
Paying Additional Search fees at the EPO - Direct European Patent Applications
If the EPO considers that the claims of a patent application relate to more than one invention (i.e. lack "unity of invention"), then the applicant...
Plant Variety Rights and Patents for Plant-Related Inventions
A plant variety right is an intellectual property right for the exclusive exploitation of a named plant variety. As with other IP rights, plant...
Prosecution of Direct European Patent Applications
Here we set out the early stage procedure for European patent applications filed directly at the EPO, including divisional applications. We also set...
Providing Search Results to the EPO
On 1 January 2011, new Rules 141 and 70b come into force at the EPO which require applicants to provide the EPO with a copy of the results of any...
Registration of UK Patents & Designs
It is possible to register UK national patents, European patents (UK) and UK registered designs in a number of other states and territories. This...
Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs) & Patent Term Extensions (PTEs)
Over 60 countries worldwide offer the possibility of extensions (PTEs or SPCs) for medicinal product patents. “Supplementary Protection Certificate”...
The London Agreement
This information is available in Korean.
The London Agreement aims to reduce translation costs incurred after the grant of a European patent. ...
Third Party Observations explained
Third Party Observations (TPOs) provide a mechanism for third parties to file objections and evidence against a pending patent application which, if...
Waiving Rule 161 and 162 Communications at the EPO
This information is available in Korean.
The time period for responding to the Rule 161/162 communication (issued shortly after entry into the...
Our People
Our IP specialists work at all stage of the IP life cycle and provide strategic advice about patent, trade mark and registered designs, as well as any IP-related disputes and legal and commercial requirements.
News & Insights
Read our blogs to keep up to date with developments in the IP world and what we are up to at Mewburn Ellis.
Contact Us
We have an easily-accessible office in central London, as well as a number of regional offices throughout the UK and an office in Munich, Germany. We’d love to hear from you, so please get in touch.