Legal Commentary

EPO president stays plant patent proceedings

On Tuesday, the EPO issued a noticed staying all further proceedings concerning the patentability of plants and animals. This follows a referral to the Enlarged Board of Appeal by EPO president, Antón ...

11 April 2019 by Amy Sandys

Pharmacy exemption

Netherlands passes pharmacy exemption for patented medicine

On 1 February, a provision of the Dutch Patent Act 1995 came into force. It allows pharmacists to prepare patented medicines, on a small scale, for pa ...

2 April 2019 by JUVE

Plant patents

Patenting plants: EPO examiners explore solution

Lack of consensus on if patents can be granted on plants and animals is causing a stalemate between the European Patent Organisation member states, an ...

29 March 2019 by JUVE

French patent system

The end of quick and dirty? French patent system under scrutiny

The French patent system is being reformed. Following the German model, patents will be examined for inventive step and an opposition procedure will b ...

15 March 2019 by JUVE

EPO Boards of Appeal

Battistelli's difficult legacy

Haar is an independent municipality on the outskirts of Munich, and current home to the Boards of Appeal of the European Patent Office. But since last ...

7 March 2019 by JUVE

Opinion

Signs of life: UPC constitutional complaint

The Federal Constitutional Court has published its list of decisions for 2019. Once again, it contains the constitutional complaint against the UPC la ...

26 February 2019 by JUVE

Trade secret protection

Psst, top secret!

The new Trade Secrets Directive already applies almost everywhere in the EU. But it is Germany of all countries which is struggling to incorporate the ...

21 February 2019 by JUVE

Partnerships

EPO and LESI partnership will enhance patent knowledge

A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the European Patent Office (EPO) and the Licensing Executives Society International (LESI) at th ...

14 February 2019 by JUVE

Supplementary protection certificates

SPC waiver subject to debate

It was planned for the SPC manufacturing waiver to be introduced in the EU before 2019. However, the final report by the Committee for Legal Affairs ( ...

11 February 2019 by JUVE

Brexit

The end is nigh: 50 days until Brexit

It is 50 days until Brexit and the European patent community is on tenterhooks. No-one has an idea of what will emerge from ongoing talks between the ...

8 February 2019 by JUVE

Artificial Intelligence

Rise of the robots: surge in AI patents

A flagship study published by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) shows a surge in the filing of artificial-intelligence related paten ...

7 February 2019 by JUVE

Standard essential patents

Pool party: the future of SEPs in Europe

Litigation over SEPs is keeping European patent courts busy. And this is only set to increase with the 5G mobile standard and the Internet of Things. ...

31 January 2019 by JUVE

Opinion

Blunting the battle axe

In German patent law, automatic injuctions are losing support. But there are few signs that the German government is willing to reform. With the UPC, ...

25 January 2019 by JUVE

EPO management

Clearing the cobwebs: new management at the EPO

After the Battistelli era there is a new broom at the European Patent Office. The former president left a legacy of deep distrust of the leadership on ...

21 January 2019 by JUVE

Unified Patent Court

Troubled waters: Brexit and the UPC

Rejection of Theresa May’s Brexit deal by the UK parliament means the Unified Patent Court will not get off to an orderly start. Although a ‘No Deal’ ...

17 January 2019 by JUVE

Mobile communication

Bruised fruit: Apple loses round to Qualcomm

The dispute between Qualcomm and Apple in Germany shows no signs of abating. Munich Regional Court's ban on the sale of older iPhones has hit Apple ha ...

11 January 2019 by JUVE