2004

Architects' competition for European Patent Office concludedAt the end of November, the European Patent Office (EPO) concluded an international architects' competition to replace an 85-metre tower holding 1 100 offices at its branch in The Hague.

Lithuania joins the European Patent Organisation as the 30th member stateThe European Patent Organisation continues its dynamic growth. With the accession of Lithuania to the European Patent Convention, the Organisation now has 30 member states. Moreover, an agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina has entered into force, allowing applicants to extend their patent applications and patents to that country, which has observer status in the Organisation.

Further expansion of the European patent system- "Patents are the backbone of the knowledge economy in Europe"The European Patent Office (EPO) expects a record number in patent applications this year: “177 500 European patent applications are the highest number ever recorded in the history of our Office”, explained EPO President Alain Pompidou at a press meeting today.

European Patent Office recognises same-sex marriage whenever validly contracted in one of the member statesThe European Patent Organisation has come to a conclusion on the recognition of same-sex marriage whenever validly contracted in one of the member states.

Enhanced access to patent information from the European Patent OfficePatent information from the European Patent Office (EPO) encompasses over 45 million documents. To meet the needs of both small and large-sized organisations, the EPO has developed a wide range of tools and services that optimise the retrieval and exploitation of patent information.

Signature d’un accord trilatéral OEB - INPI - OAPI suite à la construction du Centre Régional de Formation en Propriété Intellectuelle de l’OAPI à Yaoundé (Cameroun)L’Office européen des brevets, représenté par le Professeur Alain Pompidou, Président, l’Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle, représenté par Monsieur Benoît Battistelli, Directeur Général, et l’Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle, représenté par Monsieur Anthioumane N’Diaye, Directeur Général, ont signé à Genève le 29 septembre 2004 un accord trilatéral de coopération dont le but est de coordonner les efforts des trois parties suite à la création par l’OAPI d’un centre régional de formation établi au siège de l’OAPI à Yaoundé (Cameroun).La mission de ce centre est la formation en Propriété Intellectuelle et la diffusion des connaissances technologiques et scientifiques.

Sprecher an der Pressekonferenz des EPASprecher an der Pressekonferenz des EPA. Pressemappe im PDFormat (gescannt) - 2.3 MB.

Public oral proceedings in the appeal case T 315/03 relating to the “Oncomouse/Harvard” patent EP 0 169 672On 5 July public oral proceedings will be held at the European Patent Office (EPO) in an appeal case relating to European patent EP 0 169 672. The patented invention concerns a genetically modified rodent that, under certain conditions, develops tumours and is therefore claimed to be particularly suitable for use in cancer research.

Alain Pompidou takes up office as President of the European Patent OfficeAlain Pompidou took up office today as President of the European Patent Office (EPO). The 62-year old Frenchman succeeds a German, Ingo Kober, who, having held this post since 1996, is now going into retirement.

Creation of a patent academy by the European Patent OrganisationWith a view to fostering the development and harmonisation of patent-related intellectual property law and practice within its member states, the European Patent Organisation has adopted regulations setting up a European Patent Academy. The new institution will be managed by the European Patent Office (EPO) and will have its seat in Munich. In close co-operation with national, European and international institutions and organisations its main task will be to develop a Europe-wide training and education scheme for the benefit of the European patent system.

Öffentliche mündliche Verhandlung in der Beschwerdesache T 475/01 betreffend das EP 0 275 957 "Herbizidresistenz-Gen/Bayer CropScience GmbH“Am 15. Juni findet im Europäischen Patentamt (EPA) eine öffentliche mündliche Verhandlung in einer Beschwerdesache zum europäischen Patent EP 0 275 957 statt. Bei der patentierten Erfindung handelt es sich um ein in Pflanzen wirksames Resistenzgen gegen Pflanzenschutzmittel und dessen Verwendung.

Record number of granted European patentsThe European Patent Office (EPO) can point to another major achievement in its history: last year, it granted nearly 60 000 European patents, 27% more than in 2002.

“Myriad/breast cancer” patent revoked after public hearing Earlier today, an opposition division at the European Patent Office (EPO) decided to revoke the “Myriad/breast cancer” patent.

Public opposition hearing on "Myriad/Breast cancer" patent at the European Patent Office (17-19 May)An opposition division of the European Patent Office (EPO) will begin public oral proceedings on 17 May in the opposition against a European patent granted in January 2001 to the US company Myriad Geneticse.

Information for the press: European patent EP-B-0 1 121 015European patent EP-B-01121015 was granted by the European Patent Office (EPO) on 26.11.2003. It concerns a method for storing deep-frozen biological specimens which remain viable after thawing. Examples of such specimens given in the patent include embryos, sperm, oocytes, morulae and blastocysts.

Poland joins the European Patent OrganisationPoland has ratified the European Patent Convention (EPC) and from today is a member of the European Patent Organisation. It is now possible to file applications for European patents for Poland and have them granted by the European Patent Office. This will make the protection of inventions in Poland much easier and less expensive.

Technical Board of Appeal revokes "RAMBUS" patent EP 0 525 068 on a “Semiconductor Memory Device” In the appeal case against the European patent EP 0 525 068 (“Rambus/Semiconductor Memory Device”) the competent Technical Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office (EPO) has, at the end of public oral proceedings, announced its decision to revoke the patent in suit. The reasons for this final decision will be given in writing.

Public oral proceedings in the appeal case T0081/03-351 relating to the "RAMBUS" patent EP 0 525 068 on a “Semiconductor Memory Device”On 10 and 11 February public oral proceedings will be held at the European Patent Office (EPO) in an appeal case relating to European patent EP 0 525 068. The patented invention concerns a semiconductor memory device which increases the speed of communication between processing and memory devices in computers.

Press information: European patent EP-B-0 445 929 European patent EP-B-0 445 929, which was granted by the European Patent Office (EPO) on 21.05.2003, relates to soft-milling wheat producing flour with favourable baking properties. The patent owner is Monsanto Technology LLC, St. Louis/USA. The patent protection covers 13 of the 27 contracting states of the European Patent Organisation. An essentially identical patent was granted inter alia by the US Patent and Trademark Office for the USA.