European Patent Office

16 July 2021 by Amy Sandys

EPO video hearings

G 1/21: EPO confirms video conferencing compatible with EPC

Today, the EPO Enlarged Board of Appeal has handed down its first order in the high-profile G 1/21 case regarding video conferencing. A press communiq ...

1 July 2021 by Amy Sandys

Biosimilars

Polpharma and Wuesthoff succeed in revoking MS drug patent

The Opposition Division of the European Patent Office has revoked a Biogen patent, which covers treatment for multiple sclerosis. In May 2020, Polphar ...

Legal Commentary

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 ...

28 April 2021 by Christina Schulze

Legal Commentary

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 ...

15 April 2021 by Amy Sandys

30 March 2021 by Mathieu Klos

Consumer goods

Ocado and AutoStore expand robot-assisted technology war to Europe

Ocado has filed several patent infringement suits against competitor AutoStore in Germany, taking the dispute to the next level. The new litigation fo ...

19 March 2021 by Amy Sandys

CRISPR/Cas

EPO revokes first Sigma-Aldrich CRISPR patent for lack of inventive step

The EPO Opposition Division has revoked a CRISPR patent, part of the Sigma-Aldrich patent portfolio, for lack of inventive step. The revocation is sig ...

Legal Commentary

16 March 2021 by Amy Sandys

EPO Patent Index shows medical innovation driving patent applications

Today's EPO Patent Index 2020 highlights healthcare innovation as the biggest driver of European patent applications. The number of filed European pat ...

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 ...

1 March 2021 by Christina Schulze

Compulsory EPO video hearings leave some parties in doubt

Since the beginning of 2021, the EPO Boards of Appeal in Munich has conducted three-quarters of its hearings by video conference. This means parties c ...

16 February 2021 by Mathieu Klos

Corning and Schott battle over flexible glass handset displays

Schott has overturned two patents for flexible glass owned by US glass manufacturer Corning at the European Patent Office. Now, the dispute over ultra ...

11 February 2021 by Mathieu Klos

Germany

Skyventure and ISG overcome turbulence in skydiving centres dispute

A dispute over property rights between ISG and Jochen Schweizer, and Skyventure, has concluded with the withdrawal of important lawsuits. Leisure prov ...

29 December 2020 by Mathieu Klos

Year in review 2020

Top trends in European patent law 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has changed everything – including the European patent market, and how patent court proceedings are conducted. The arrival of ...

17 December 2020 by Christina Schulze

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

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 ...