EPO Boards of Appeal

29 April 2021 by Amy Sandys

In-house interview

Jörg Thomaier: "A company must have the right to show up at the EPO"

The European Patent Office's decision to allow compulsory video hearings has caused controversy among some parties. Among them is Bayer, which last we ...

28 April 2021 by Christina Schulze

EPO Boards of Appeal

German patent firm alliance opposes compulsory video oral proceedings

In May, the Enlarged Board of Appeal will hear a case on the lawfulness of conducting oral proceedings by compulsory video conference in case G1/21. C ...

15 April 2021 by Amy Sandys

Annual Report 2020

Boards of Appeal reduces case backlog, despite pandemic challenges

The EPO Boards of Appeal has published its Annual Report 2020, which shows a reduction in its case backlog. This is despite a shift to remote working ...

7 April 2021 by Konstanze Richter

Aerospace

Fatal comma error: EPO nullifies Boeing communication patent

It was a small punctuation mark with major repercussions. The EPO Board of Appeal has nullified a Boeing patent due to the inconsistent placement of a ...

11 March 2021 by Amy Sandys

EPO Boards of Appeal

Enlarged Board of Appeal releases G 1/19 decision on patenting computer simulations

The EPO Enlarged Board of Appeal has published its decision in case G 1/19 regarding the patentability of computer-implemented simulations. The EBA st ...

17 December 2020 by Christina Schulze

European Patent Office

Home office, home countries: EPO moves towards a new normal

Since the 1990s, the European Patent Office has been a pioneer in home office and digitalisation of its work processes. Now, there is a desire among s ...

25 November 2020 by Christina Schulze

European Patent Office

Compulsory video conferencing reshuffles the cards for patent attorneys

The European Patent Office is making video conferencing the standard in oral opposition proceedings and patent examinations. The Boards of Appeal want ...

German patent ranking 2020

Locational advantage likely to grow for German patent firms

For German patent attorneys, the travel and contact restrictions resulting from the coronavirus pandemic could lead to a locational advantage. No comp ...

10 November 2020 by Christina Schulze

10 November 2020 by Amy Sandys

DNA

EPO Boards of Appeal clarifies priority rules in CRISPR case

A Technical Board of Appeal at the EPO has published a decision concerning the revocation of a CRISPR/Cas patent held by the Broad Institute. The pate ...

6 November 2020 by Mathieu Klos

Pharmaceuticals

EPO decision clears way for Sanofi blockbuster drug Praluent

The Higher Regional Court Düsseldorf is allowing Sanofi to sell its competing cholesterol-lowering drug Praluent in Germany again, following yesterday ...

24 July 2020 by Amy Sandys

Long read

Patentable or not? Regulating AI inventions for a digital future

The recent G 1/19 hearing at the Enlarged Board of Appeal has reignited the patent community's interest in the law on AI patents. Although concerning ...

16 July 2020 by Amy Sandys

EPO Boards of Appeal

Enlarged Board of Appeal hears G 1/19 questions on computer simulations

Yesterday, the Enlarged Board of Appeal heard three referred questions in case G 1/19, over the patentability of computer simulations. This follows th ...

28 May 2020 by Amy Sandys

In-house interview

"G 3/19 was a 100% political decision" - an interview with Bayer's in-house counsel

The Enlarged Board of Appeal G 3/19 recently confirmed a decision that plants and animals derived from an 'essentially biological process' are not pat ...

19 May 2020 by Amy Sandys

Plant patents

Enlarged Board of Appeal issues G 3/19 decision on plant patents

The Enlarged Board of Appeal has ruled that plants and animals obtained from essentially biological processes are not patentable. This is contrary to ...