Why Record Changes of Ownership at the EPO? Recording a change of ownership on the EP register is not mandatory. However, we do highly recommend recording such changes for the reasons outlined below.
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 successful, can result in limitation or ...
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 suitable compensation is a very complex ...
Direct European Patent Applications: Early Stage Procedure and Paying Search Fees Download flow chart - EP Early Stage Procedure & Paying Search Fees - Decision chart for action after issuance of a partial search report on a direct European patent application Here we ...
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 included (“designated”) by payment of one ...
The Unitary Patent and the Unified Patent Court explained This information is available in Japanese, Chinese and Korean. The ‘Unitary Patent Package’ consists of:
European regional phase entry: Early Stage Procedure Where the EPO Acted as the ISA Download flowchart - European regional phase entry: Early Stage Procedure Where the EPO Acted as the ISA
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 out the practical consequences of this ...
European regional phase entry - Early Stage Procedure - EPO is not ISA Download flowchart - European regional phase entry - Early Stage Procedure - EPO is NOT ISA
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 European regional phase) is six months. In ...
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 software and business method inventions ...
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. It entered into force on 1 May 2008. It applies ...
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 the EPC since it was concluded in 1973, ...
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 variety rights are intended to promote and ...
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 search carried out in respect of an earlier ...
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 one choice. You can also find out about ...
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 their case orally before the EPO. Oral ...
European Grant Procedure Download Grant Procedure flow chart This information is also available in Japanese, Chinese and Korean
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 the invention. The combination of the ...
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 initially receives only a partial ...
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 page lists the states and territories in ...
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” (SPC) is the name given to such an ...
Accelerated Prosecution Our pages ‘UK Patents - The Basics’ and ‘European Patents - The Basics’ set out in detail the various procedural steps involved in obtaining UK and European patents, along with the likely ...
European Patents - The Basics Download flowchart - European Patents - The Basics This is information is also available in Japanese, Chinese and Korean