IP Law News

Publication of the amended specification of the European patent

According to Article 105 c) of the European Patent Convention (EPC) If the European patent is limited under Article 105b, paragraph 2 of EPC , the European Patent Office (EPO) shall publish the amended specification of the European patent as soon as possible after the mention of the limitation has been published in the European Patent Bulletin.

 

Prepared by European Patent Registration and Consulting Services GmbH

Limitation or revocation of the European patent

According to Article 105 b) of the European Patent Convention (EPC) ,

(1)

The European Patent Office (EPO) shall examine whether the requirements laid down in the EPC Implementing Regulations for limiting or revoking the European patent have been met. 

(2)

If the European Patent Office (EPO) considers that the request for limitation or revocation of the European patent meets these requirements, it shall decide to limit or revoke the European patent in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. Otherwise, it shall reject the request. 

(3)

European patent registration - Request for limitation or revocation

According to Article 105 a) of the European Patent Convention (EPC)

(1)

At the request of the proprietor, the European patent may be revoked or be limited by an amendment of the claims. The request shall be filed with the European Patent Office (EPO)  in accordance with the EPC Implementing Regulations. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the limitation or revocation fee has been paid. 

(2)

The request may not be filed while opposition proceedings in respect of the European patent are pending. 

 

European patent registration - Intervention of the assumed infringer

According to Article 105 of the European Patent Convention (EPC)

(1)

Any third party may, in accordance with the EPC Implementing Regulations, intervene in opposition proceedings after the opposition period has expired, if the third party proves that  

(a)

proceedings for infringement of the same patent have been instituted against him, or 

(b)

following a request of the proprietor of the patent to cease alleged infringement, the third party has instituted proceedings for a ruling that he is not infringing the patent. 

(2)

European patent registration - Costs in the opposition proceedings

According to Article 104 of the European Patent Convention (EPC)

(1)

Each party to the opposition proceedings shall bear the costs it has incurred, unless the Opposition Division, for reasons of equity, orders, in accordance with the Implementing Regulations, a different apportionment of costs. 

(2)

The procedure for fixing costs shall be laid down in the EPC Implementing Regulations. 

(3)

European patent registration - Publication of a new specification of the European patent

According to Article 103 of the European Patent Convention (EPC) , if the European patent is maintained as amended under Article 101, paragraph 3(a) of the EPC, the European Patent Office shall publish a new specification of the European patent as soon as possible after the mention of the opposition decision has been published in the European Patent Bulletin.

Prepared by European Patent Registration and Consulting Services GmbH

European patent registration - How to reduce or avoid payment of some EPO Official fees for registration of European patent Part III , Filing fee

According to the regulations related to European Patent Convention (EPC) , for filing one European patent application or for entering one International (PCT) application into European national phase one filing fee is to be paid.

One application can be filed to European Patent Office (EPO)  by mail, by fax in person  or in electronic form by using special EPO software.  

 

European patent registration - Examination of the opposition – Revocation or maintenance of the European patent

According to Article 101 of the European Patent Convention (EPC),

(1)

If the opposition is admissible, the Opposition Division shall examine, in accordance with the Implementing Regulations of EPC,  whether at least one ground for opposition under Article 100  EPC prejudices the maintenance of the European patent. During this examination, the Opposition Division shall invite the parties, as often as necessary, to file observations on communications from another party or issued by itself.

European patent registration - Opposition

According to Article 99 of the European Patent Convention (EPC) ,

(1)

Within nine months of the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent in the European Patent Bulletin, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to that patent, in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. Notice of opposition shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. 

(2)

The opposition shall apply to the European patent in all the Contracting States in which that patent has effect. 

(3)

How to reduce or avoid payment of some EPO Official fees for registration of European patent Part 2 , Additional fee for application containing more than 35 pages

According to the regulations related to European Patent Convention (EPC) , additional fee is to be paid for patent application comprising more than 35 pages.   In this regard for  any patent application which consists of more than 35 pages the applicant is obliged to pay to European Patent Office (EPO) additional fee for the 36th and for each additional page.

The EPO additional fee for the 36th and each additional page amounts EUR 15,- for each page.

 

Pages

Subscribe to IP Law News