The European Patent Office: serving the global economy. François-Régis Hannart Principal Director European and International Co-operation

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1 The : serving the global economy François-Régis Hannart Principal Director European and International Co-operation Pretoria, 13 September 2017

2 The European patent system European Patent Organisation founded in 1973 Independent organisation, dedicated to patents Annual budget: USD 2.4 billion (self-financed) Some 650 million inhabitants 38 European member states 2 European extension states Bosnia-Herzegovina Montenegro 2 validation states Morocco Republic of Moldova 2

3 Our five locations in Europe The Hague Liaison office with the EU Brussels Berlin Munich Vienna Headquarters 3

4 The at a glance 2 nd largest intergovernmental institution in Europe Global player and voice of Europe in patents Will be in charge of delivering and administering the Unitary Patent ISO 9001 certification: High-quality European patents are drivers of innovation, securing the competitiveness of the European economy employees, of which around highly qualified examiners Self-financing: budget of EUR 2.2bn without any public funding 4

5 The role of the EPO in the European grant procedure We provide patent protection: in up to 38 EPO member states, 2 extension and 2 validation states based on a single application, in one of the three official languages (English, French, German). We make all patent documents available to the public. 5

6 The European patent granting procedure Appeal proceedings European patent application Refusal or withdrawal of application Limitation/ revocation/ opposition proceedings Validation in up to - 38 member states - 2 extension states - 2 validation states Search report with preliminary opinion on patentability Substantive examination Grant of European patent At the request of the patent proprietor 6

7 European patent applications*: stability at a high level * Applications are the files for which applicants have decided to request a European patent from the EPO. They are a direct measure of the explicit interest of innovating firms to assert their patent rights on the European technology market. Applications refer to direct European patent applications filed at the EPO under the European Patent Convention, plus international Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) filings which entered the European regional phase (becoming a European application) in the year under review. 7

8 2016 = Better performance to tackle our challenges +8.5% PRODUCTION Search, examination, opposition Production increase 60% due to productivity gains 40% due to capacity increase 2016 = products +40% GRANTED PATENTS Published patents 2016 = patents -25% -20% REDUCING OUR STOCK Search, examination, opposition Stock reduction in months of work over 2 years REDUCING OUR COSTS Unit cost 3 rd consecutive year of falling unit cost 2016 = 80% of the unit cost of

9 Published patents: Strong increase in %

10 Early Certainty: Speeding up our work processes Know what s ahead Reliable rights on time Challenges resolved faster 1 6 months 2 12 months 3 15 months Search reports Examination time Opposition time We deliver search reports within 6 months of receipt. We are reducing examination times to just 12 months on average by We aim to conclude oppositions to newly granted patents in just 15 months on average. Actual Search timeliness 4.9 months Actual Examination timeliness 22.6 months Actual duration of oppositions 23.7 months 10

11 Origin of European patent applications Others 5% S. Korea 4% P.R. China 4% Japan 13% United States 25% Germany 16% France 7% Switzerland 5% Netherlands 4% United Kingdom 3% Italy 3% Sweden 2% Other EPO member states 9% EPO member states 48% Notes: Analysis based on European patent applications (direct European patent applications filed at the EPO under the European Patent Convention, plus international Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) filings which entered the European regional phase (becoming a European application) in the year under review) Applications are allocated to the country of residence of the first-name applicant EPO: the 38 member states of the European Patent Organisation, including EU28 11

12 Top 25 applicants at the EPO (2016) 1. PHILIPS HUAWEI SAMSUNG LG UNITED TECHNOLOGIES SIEMENS QUALCOMM GENERAL ELECTRIC BASF ROBERT BOSCH INTEL ERICSSON SONY NOKIA MICROSOFT 984 (=) (+ 2) (- 1) (- 1) (+ 1) (- 1) (=) (+ 2) (=) (- 2) (+ 1) (- 1) (+ 3) (+ 4) (- 1) Direct European applications and International (PCT) applications entering the European phase in 2016; statistics are based on the first-named applicant. 12

13 Flow of patent applications between EPO and IP5 countries Notes: Analysis based on applications received by the five largest patent offices (IP5 offices) in Source of the data: IP5 Statistics Report

14 The EPO and the PCT EPO ranks 1st in the world as ISA and IPEA: International Search Reports (35,7%) (63%) International Preliminary Examination Reports ISRs established in 2016 (%) 14

15 Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Exploiting EPO work products at partner Offices International Search with written opinion Positive Opinion Expedited grant at EPO in the European phase JP US KR AU CN CA Negative Opinion International Preliminary Examination Report (optional) Patent Prosecution Highway CO MY IL PH SG? MX RU 15

16 Validation agreements Validation agreements in force: Morocco (1 March 2015) Republic of Moldova (1 Nov. 2015) Rep. of Moldova Pending agreements: Tunisia, Laos, Cambodia Angola, Brunei Laos Morocco Angola Tunisia Cambodia Brunei 16

17 Objectives of the Unitary Patent A simplified and cost-effective patent system for Europe Facilitates access to patent protection for SMEs, universities and public research centres Makes Europe more attractive for innovation and investors Boosts Europe s competitiveness 17

18 Basic principles of the Unitary Patent Based on a European patent, granted by the EPO under the EPC Unitary effect extends to the 26 EU member states currently participating, at the inventor s request Registered by the EPO in one single administrative step An additional option for inventors, alongside the existing European and national patent systems Can be combined with the European patent to cover up to 42 countries 1 Uniform litigation system (the Unified Patent Court) 1. The 38 member states of the European Patent Organisation, plus two extension states (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro) and two validation states (Morocco, Republic of Moldova). 18

19 Thank you for your attention! Further information: Mr Nicholas Körnig 19