pct2ep.com the reliable and efficient way to progress your PCT patent application in Europe Pocket Guide to European Patents

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "pct2ep.com the reliable and efficient way to progress your PCT patent application in Europe Pocket Guide to European Patents"

Transcription

1 pct2ep.com the reliable and efficient way to progress your PCT patent application in Europe Pocket Guide to European Patents

2 How it works 1. Get a quote Enter the number of your PCT application and a few simple details to obtain a fixed quote for entry to the EPO regional phase 2. Save & accept Save the quote to accept it later or start the process with just one click 3. Keep track Review the progress of your application via our clear interface Expertise All EPO filings are overseen by our experienced team of European Patent Attorneys. Efficiency Our advanced electronic systems ensure reliable and timely submission of documents, as well as effective communication with you. Continuity Your application remains in safe hands throughout the filing process and the subsequent procedure in the EPO.

3 Overview of the European Patent System 3 The European patent system, governed by the European Patent Convention (EPC) and administered by the European Patent Office (EPO), came into operation in 1978, and provides an alternative to the filing of multiple national patent applications in individual European countries. Indeed, for some countries in Europe, where protection is sought through a PCT application, the EPO route is the only option. Whilst some aspects of the European patent system have been, and remain, the subject of criticism, it is indisputable that the system has been a success, as evidenced by the number of applications that are filed at the EPO. Under the EPC, a single application is filed in one of the three official languages of the EPO: English, French or German. The chosen language is called the language of the proceedings. The application usually covers all the contracting states of the EPC, which includes all current member states of the European Union (EU) plus several others. The application is processed centrally up to the point of grant, following which the single European patent application in effect becomes a bundle of national patents that are equivalent in all material respects to patents granted by the national patent offices of individual countries. In this booklet, we outline some of the key features of EPO practice that are most relevant to applicants and practitioners from outside Europe. w: pct2ep.com e: info@pct2ep.com t:

4 4 Contracting states of the EPC The following countries are member states of the European patent system (August 2013): AL Albania GB United Kingdom MT Malta AT Austria GR Greece NL Netherlands BE Belgium HR Croatia NO Norway BG Bulgaria HU Hungary PL Poland CH Switzerland IE Ireland PT Portugal CY Cyprus IS Iceland RO Romania CZ Czech Republic IT Italy SM San Marino DK Denmark LI Liechtenstein RS Serbia EE Estonia LT Lithuania SI Slovenia ES Spain LU Luxembourg SK Slovakia FI Finland LV Latvia SE Sweden FR France MK Macedonia TR Turkey DE Germany MC Monaco Reliable and efficient PCT regional phase entry

5 Entry of a PCT application to the European regional phase 5 The majority of European patent applications filed by applicants from outside Europe are derived from International (PCT) patent applications. The time limit for entry of a PCT application to the regional phase in the EPO is 31 months from the earliest claimed priority date (or from the PCT filing date, if no priority is claimed). Entry to the regional phase requires the payment of the applicable official fees. Usually, those fees are: filing fee search fee designation fee examination fee excess page fees In some cases, the search fee is reduced or waived (depending on which patent office carried out the International search), and the designation and examination fees may not be due at the time of entry to the regional phase. excess claims are expensive, but the fees can be deferred Excess claims fees are relatively high in the EPO and apply to all claims in excess of fifteen, but these can be deferred; they do not need to be considered or paid at the time of regional phase entry. w: pct2ep.com e: info@pct2ep.com t:

6 6 Patentability in Europe The main requirements for patentability in Europe are that the claimed invention must be novel and must involve an inventive step. The prior art against which these criteria are measured is made up of all information that was already in the public domain before the effective priority date of the claim under consideration (or the filing date where no priority is claimed or the claim is not entitled to priority). In other words, the absolute novelty standard applies. the absolute novelty standard applies in Europe Inventive step is broadly comparable to the requirement for non-obviousness that exists in other jurisdictions such as the USA. However, EPO examiners use the problem-and-solution approach to the assessment of inventive step. This involves identifying the difference between the claimed invention and the closest prior art, determining the technical effect associated with that difference, and in the light of that determination formulating the technical problem addressed by the invention and the solution to that problem that the invention provides. If that solution is not obvious over the prior art, then an inventive step is involved. In addition, there are certain classes of invention that are not patentable in Europe. These include computer software and business methods, but the exclusion applies only in so far as the patent relates to that subject matter as such. There are often ways of formulating claims that circumvent the exclusion. Similarly, although methods of treatment of the human or animal body are not patentable in Europe, claims can often be reworded into an acceptable form. Reliable and efficient PCT regional phase entry

7 Prosecution of a European patent application 7 For a PCT-derived application, the first procedural step after regional phase entry is the issuance of a Rule 161 communication. This invites the applicant to amend the claims and, if the EPO acted as International Search Authority (ISA), also to file a full response to the issues raised in the Written Opinion that accompanied the International Search Report. If the EPO did not act as ISA, then no substantive response is required at this stage. The number of excess claims fees depends on the number of claims after the response to the Rule 161 communication has been filed. If the application contains more than fifteen claims, then a reduced claim set is often filed at this stage. Unless the EPO acted as ISA, a supplementary European search is then carried out, and the search report is issued with an accompanying Written Opinion. For a full response to the Written Opinion must be filed the application to proceed, a full response to the Written Opinion must be filed, which may include amendments to the claims. The next communication is issued by the Examining Division, and the time limit for response is usually four months, though a single extension of time of two months is generally available. In practice, the primary examiner of the Examining Division is usually the examiner who carried out the search and prepared the Written Opinion. The number of office actions is at the discretion of the examiner, but our experience is that examiners are willing to prolong the dialogue with applicants, provided that each response is a genuine attempt to move the case towards allowance. (continued overleaf) w: pct2ep.com e: info@pct2ep.com t:

8 8 A precautionary request for a hearing (oral proceedings) is made to ensure that the examiner cannot refuse the application without notice. In practice, if a summons to oral proceedings is issued, it is often possible to resolve outstanding issues by further discussion with the examiner. Where objections are raised by the Examining Division, it is almost always necessary to make amendments to the specification and in particular to the claims of the application. Those amendments may substantially affect the scope of the claims, or they may be purely formal in nature. In all cases, however, it is critically important that any amendment does not introduce information into the application that was not present in the Art 123(2) is applied very rigorously by the EPO amendments made elsewhere may not be acceptable specification as originally filed. This requirement is set out in Article 123(2) EPC, and is applied very rigorously by the EPO. Extensive case law has developed over the three decades in which the EPO has been in operation, and amendments that may be possible in other jurisdictions, for instance in the USA, may not be acceptable under EPO practice. Once the Examining Division is satisfied that the application meets the requirements of the EPC, a notice of allowance (Rule 71(3) Communication) is issued. This is accompanied by a copy of the text with which it is intended to grant the European patent. If the applicant approves the text, it is necessary to pay the grant fee and to file translations of the claims into the two other official languages of the EPO, i.e. into French and German if the specification is in English. Once these formalities have been completed, the application proceeds to grant and the patent specification is published. Reliable and efficient PCT regional phase entry

9 Divisional applications 9 A European patent application may be divided and one or more divisional applications filed. This may be done either in response to an objection of lack of unity of invention by the EPO examiner, or voluntarily in order to protect subject matter disclosed in the application but not covered by the claims of the parent application. strict time limits apply to the filing of divisional applications It is important to note that, under current rules, a restrictive time limit applies to the filing of divisional applications. In most cases, a divisional can only be filed within 2 years of the first communication issued by the Examining Division. Divisional applications may themselves be divided and further divisionals filed, but the same time limit applies to all applications in the same patent family. Please note: Change of Rules With effect from 1 April 2014, the two-year time limit on the filing of divisional applications at the EPO will no longer apply. Instead, divisional applications may be filed at any time, provided that the parent application is still pending. w: pct2ep.com e: info@pct2ep.com t:

10 10 Maintenance fees Maintenance fees (annuities) are payable throughout the pendency of a European patent application. The first fee is in respect of the third year from the filing date of the application, and therefore falls due in the month containing the second anniversary of the filing date. Maintenance fees must be paid by the last day of that month. For an application derived from a PCT application that claimed priority from a national application filed twelve months earlier, the first (third year) maintenance fee usually falls due about six months after regional phase entry. Maintenance fees may only be paid up to three months in advance, and so the maintenance fee cannot be paid when the regional phase is entered. maintenance fees are due throughout the pendency of a European patent application However, where the interval between the priority application and the PCT filing date is smaller, or where no priority is claimed, the third year maintenance fee may already be due at the time of entry to the regional phase. In such cases, the maintenance fee is included in the quote you receive from pct2ep.com. Reliable and efficient PCT regional phase entry

11 After grant 11 The European patent system is not yet truly unified. The pre-grant procedure is centralised through a single patent application that provisionally covers all the individual countries that are parties to the EPC. However, once the patent is granted, the patent proprietor has to decide which individual countries the patent is to take effect in, and for most countries action has to be taken to bring that about. This may involve the preparation and filing of translations, either of the whole specification or just the claims. This process is commonly referred to as validation of the European patent. Once the patent has been validated, it is necessary to pay renewal fees in each European country in which the patent takes effect. These fees vary widely from country to country, but in all cases they are payable annually and fall due in the month containing the anniversary of the filing date of the patent application (i.e. the PCT filing date for a PCT-derived case). enforcement takes place countryby-country the patent proprietor must decide which countries the patent is to take effect in Also, because the single European patent application is converted, in effect, into a bundle of national patents once it has been granted, enforcement of the patent takes place on a country-by-country basis, through the court systems of each individual country. In general, judgements of each court apply only to their national jurisdiction, and enforcement across the whole of Europe can necessitate legal action in multiple countries. (continued overleaf) w: pct2ep.com e: info@pct2ep.com t:

12 12 a truly unified EU patent system may come into being, but we do not yet know for certain Legislation on a truly unified patent system for the EU has been passed by the European Parliament, but is now subject to ratification by the individual member states of the EU. If the required number of ratifications is achieved, then the unitary patent system could come into being, possibly in It will then be possible for a patent to have unitary effect throughout the participating EU member states, i.e. a single patent will cover all those countries, subject to the payment of only one renewal fee each year. At present, however, we cannot be certain whether this system will come into effect, or when. Reliable and efficient PCT regional phase entry

13 Oppositions and appeals 13 The opposition process is one of the most significant features of the European patent system. Within nine months of the date of grant of a European patent, it is possible for a third party to lodge a notice of opposition. The notice of opposition must be accompanied by a detailed statement of all the facts, evidence and arguments on which the opposition is based. opposition can be filed within nine months of grant The notice of opposition is considered by a tribunal of three examiners, known as the Opposition Division, made up of the primary examiner of the Examining Division responsible for the pre-grant examination of the patent application and two other examiners not previously involved with the case. The opposition is transmitted to the patent proprietor, who is given an opportunity to respond. The response may involve amendment of the claims of the patent, and it is critical that any amendment does not broaden the scope of the patent in any way, i.e. the scope of the claims may only be reduced after grant, and not widened. It is customary for the parties to request oral proceedings if the Opposition Division does not intend to decide in their favour. Oral proceedings take place at the EPO s offices, either in Munich or The Hague. Almost all oral proceedings are completed within one day, and the decision is announced at the conclusion of the hearing. The formal written decision, with detailed reasons, is issued some time later (sometimes several months later). (continued overleaf) w: pct2ep.com e: info@pct2ep.com t:

14 14 Once the written decision has been issued, a party adversely affected by it may file an appeal within two months. The appeal is considered by one of the EPO s Boards of Appeal, which constitute the judicial arm of the EPO and are completely independent of the Examining and Opposition Divisions. The appeal procedure is effectively a judicial review of the previous procedure, and usually follows a similar course to opposition proceedings, i.e. written submissions by both parties, followed by oral proceedings, with the final decision being issued at the conclusion of the hearing. Typical timescales are 2-3 years from the lodging of an opposition to the issuance of the first instance decision of the Opposition Division after oral proceedings, and a similar period for the completion of appeal proceedings. opposition proceedings take 2-3 years and appeals take a similar length of time The content of this booklet is for information only, and does not constitute legal advice. Whilst we have endeavoured to ensure that the information is generally applicable, specific advice should be sought on any individual case. Reliable and efficient PCT regional phase entry

15 Our expertise Our team of European Patent Attorneys and Certified Patent Administrators have vast experience of all aspects of European Patent Office procedure. Each case is allocated to an attorney who will personally supervise the preparation and filing of your application, and who will be responsible for prosecution of the application through the grant process. As well as their knowledge of EPO law and procedure, our attorneys all have excellent academic backgrounds in specialist disciplines, ranging from chemistry and biotech to mechanical engineering and physics. You can be sure that the attorney handling your application will have the appropriate technical expertise. pct2ep.com was conceived as a result of our desire to provide the greatest benefit to our clients, and our belief that what is best for our clients is also best for us. Please visit our corporate website at for more details about our company and other useful information.

16 Talk to us: Tel: Website: Adamson Jones IP Ltd BioCity Nottingham Pennyfoot Street Nottingham NG1 1GF United Kingdom LinkedIn: adamson-jones

The Unitary Patent and the Unified Patent Court. Dr. Leonard Werner-Jones

The Unitary Patent and the Unified Patent Court. Dr. Leonard Werner-Jones The Unitary Patent and the Unified Patent Court Dr. Leonard Werner-Jones Background The Past: No centralization at all Prosecution country-by-country Litigation country-by-country Patents actions 2 Background

More information

European patent filings

European patent filings Annual Report 07 - European patent filings European patent filings Total filings This graph shows the geographic origin of the European patent filings. This is determined by the country of residence of

More information

EU Trade Mark Application Timeline

EU Trade Mark Application Timeline EU Trade Mark Application Timeline EU Trade Marks, which cover the entire EU, are administered by the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM). The timeline below gives approximate timescale

More information

THE NEW EU PATENT: COST-EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVES FOR YOUR BUSINESS

THE NEW EU PATENT: COST-EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVES FOR YOUR BUSINESS THE NEW EU PATENT: COST-EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVES FOR YOUR BUSINESS GRAHAM MURNANE (GLASGOW OFFICE), DR MARINA MAURO (MILAN OFFICE), DR BEN GRAU (MUNICH OFFICE) EUROPEAN PATENT PACKAGE EUROPEAN PATENT PACKAGE

More information

IS 2016 THE FINAL STRETCH BEFORE THE ENTRY IN FORCE OF

IS 2016 THE FINAL STRETCH BEFORE THE ENTRY IN FORCE OF IS 2016 THE FINAL STRETCH BEFORE THE ENTRY IN FORCE OF THE UNITARY PATENT AND THE UNIFIED PATENT COURT? By Christian TEXIER Partner, REGIMBEAU European & French Patent Attorney texier@regimbeau.eu And

More information

I m in the Dublin procedure what does this mean?

I m in the Dublin procedure what does this mean? EN I m in the Dublin procedure what does this mean? B Information for applicants for international protection found in a Dublin procedure, pursuant to article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 604/2013 1 You have

More information

HANDLING OF PATENT APPLICATIONS UNDER THE EPC

HANDLING OF PATENT APPLICATIONS UNDER THE EPC KRAMER BARSKE SCHMIDTCHEN PATENTA HANDLING OF PATENT APPLICATIONS UNDER THE EPC Dr. Ulla Allgayer Patent Attorney European Patent Attorney Munich, Germany March 2005 Radeckestr. 43, 81245 Munich, Germany,

More information

The life of a patent application at the EPO

The life of a patent application at the EPO The life of a patent application at the EPO Yves Verbandt Noordwijk, 31/03/2016 Yves Verbandt Senior expert examiner Applied Physics guided-wave optics optical measurements flow and level measurements

More information

September 2012 Euro area unemployment rate at 11.6% EU27 at 10.6%

September 2012 Euro area unemployment rate at 11.6% EU27 at 10.6% STAT/12/155 31 October 2012 September 2012 Euro area unemployment rate at 11.6% at.6% The euro area 1 (EA17) seasonally-adjusted 2 unemployment rate 3 was 11.6% in September 2012, up from 11.5% in August

More information

HB010: Year of the survey

HB010: Year of the survey F4: Quality of life HB010: Year of the survey Year (four digits) Flags 2018 Operation 158 F4: Quality of life HB020: Country Reference period Constant Mode of collection Frame BE Belgique/Belgïe BG Bulgaria

More information

Malta-Valletta: Provision of interim services for EASO 2017/S Contract award notice. Results of the procurement procedure.

Malta-Valletta: Provision of interim services for EASO 2017/S Contract award notice. Results of the procurement procedure. 1 / 10 This notice in TED website: http://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=ted:notice:241884-2017:text:en:html Malta-Valletta: Provision of interim services for EASO 2017/S 120-241884 Contract award notice Results

More information

Euro area unemployment rate at 9.9% EU27 at 9.4%

Euro area unemployment rate at 9.9% EU27 at 9.4% STAT/11/76 April 2011 Euro area unemployment rate at 9.9% EU27 at 9.4% The euro area 1 (EA17) seasonally-adjusted 2 unemployment rate 3 was 9.9% in April 2011, unchanged compared with March 4. It was.2%

More information

Malta-Valletta: Provision of interim services for EASO 2017/S Contract award notice. Results of the procurement procedure.

Malta-Valletta: Provision of interim services for EASO 2017/S Contract award notice. Results of the procurement procedure. 1 / 8 This notice in TED website: http://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=ted:notice:339167-2017:text:en:html Malta-Valletta: Provision of interim services for EASO 2017/S 165-339167 Contract award notice Results

More information

EU, December Without Prejudice

EU, December Without Prejudice Disclaimer: The negotiations between the EU and Japan on the Economic Partnership Agreement (the EPA) have been finalised. In view of the Commission's transparency policy, we are hereby publishing the

More information

I have asked for asylum in the EU which country will handle my claim?

I have asked for asylum in the EU which country will handle my claim? EN I have asked for asylum in the EU which country will handle my claim? A Information about the Dublin Regulation for applicants for international protection pursuant to article 4 of Regulation (EU) No

More information

THE EUROPEAN UNIFIED PATENT SYSTEM:

THE EUROPEAN UNIFIED PATENT SYSTEM: THE EUROPEAN UNIFIED PATENT SYSTEM: Information Needed Today; in 2014 (or 2015) A generation from now, it may be expected that the new European unified patent system will be widely popular and provide

More information

What does the Tourism Demand Surveys tell about long distance travel? Linda Christensen Otto Anker Nielsen

What does the Tourism Demand Surveys tell about long distance travel? Linda Christensen Otto Anker Nielsen What does the Tourism Demand Surveys tell about long distance travel? Linda Christensen Otto Anker Nielsen Overview of the presentation 1. The Tourism Demand Survey 2. Data 3. Share of respondents travelling

More information

Alternative views of the role of wages: contours of a European Minimum Wage

Alternative views of the role of wages: contours of a European Minimum Wage Alternative views of the role of wages: contours of a European Minimum Wage Europe at a crossroads which way to quality jobs and prosperity? ETUI-ETUC Conference Brussels, 24-26 September 2014 Dr. Torsten

More information

Report on women and men in leadership positions and Gender equality strategy mid-term review

Report on women and men in leadership positions and Gender equality strategy mid-term review EUROPEAN COMMISSION MEMO Brussels, 14 October 2013 Report on women and men in leadership positions and Gender equality strategy mid-term review 1. New Report on Women in Decision-Making: What is the report

More information

The Unitary Patent & The Unified Patent Court IP Key & Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary University of London 8 November 2016

The Unitary Patent & The Unified Patent Court IP Key & Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary University of London 8 November 2016 The Unitary Patent & The IP Key & Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary University of London 8 November 2016 Pierre Véron Honorary President EPLAW (European Patent Lawyers Association) Member of

More information

SIS II 2014 Statistics. October 2015 (revision of the version published in March 2015)

SIS II 2014 Statistics. October 2015 (revision of the version published in March 2015) SIS II 2014 Statistics October 2015 (revision of the version published in March 2015) European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice

More information

Flash Eurobarometer 430. Summary. European Union Citizenship

Flash Eurobarometer 430. Summary. European Union Citizenship European Union Citizenship Survey requested by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers and co-ordinated by the Directorate-General for Communication This document does not

More information

This refers to the discretionary clause where a Member State decides to examine an application even if such examination is not its responsibility.

This refers to the discretionary clause where a Member State decides to examine an application even if such examination is not its responsibility. 2.6. Dublin Information collected by Eurostat is the only comprehensive publicly available statistical data source that can be used to analyse and learn about the functioning of Dublin system in Europe.

More information

Convergence: a narrative for Europe. 12 June 2018

Convergence: a narrative for Europe. 12 June 2018 Convergence: a narrative for Europe 12 June 218 1.Our economies 2 Luxembourg Ireland Denmark Sweden Netherlands Austria Finland Germany Belgium United Kingdom France Italy Spain Malta Cyprus Slovenia Portugal

More information

Consumer Barometer Study 2017

Consumer Barometer Study 2017 Consumer Barometer Study 2017 The Year of the Mobile Majority As reported mobile internet usage crosses 50% 2 for the first time in all 63 countries covered by the Consumer Barometer Study 1, we look at

More information

Machine Translation at the EPO Concept, Status and Future Plans

Machine Translation at the EPO Concept, Status and Future Plans Machine Translation at the EPO Concept, Status and Future Plans Sophie Mangin Trilateral and IP5 co-ordinator European Patent Office 30 August 2009 Overview The European patent Office The European Patent

More information

The impact of international patent systems: Evidence from accession to the European Patent Convention

The impact of international patent systems: Evidence from accession to the European Patent Convention The impact of international patent systems: Evidence from accession to the European Patent Convention Bronwyn H. Hall (based on joint work with Christian Helmers) Why our paper? Growth in worldwide patenting

More information

Looking Through the Crystal Ball: For Growth and Productivity, Can Central Europe be of Service?

Looking Through the Crystal Ball: For Growth and Productivity, Can Central Europe be of Service? Looking Through the Crystal Ball: For Growth and Productivity, Can Central Europe be of Service? ARUP BANERJI REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR EUROPEAN UNION MEMBER STATES THE WORLD BANK 6 th Annual NBP Conference

More information

Notes on the Application Form for a Declaration of Invalidity of a European Union Trade Mark

Notes on the Application Form for a Declaration of Invalidity of a European Union Trade Mark Notes on the Application Form for a Declaration of Invalidity of a European Union 1 General Remarks 1.1 Use of the form The form may be obtained free of charge from the EUIPO and downloaded from its website

More information

UPDATE. MiFID II PREPARED

UPDATE. MiFID II PREPARED UPDATE MiFID II PREPARED 1 QUESTIONS, RULES & EXAMPLES What is my primary nationality? Lots of people have more than one nationality. For example, a participant might be born in Ireland, but moved to France

More information

Early job insecurity in Europe The impact of the economic crisis

Early job insecurity in Europe The impact of the economic crisis Lunch Discussion, Solidar, Brussels, November 16, 2016 Early job insecurity in Europe The impact of the economic crisis This project has received funding from the European Union s Horizon 2020 research

More information

Council of the European Union Brussels, 24 April 2018 (OR. en)

Council of the European Union Brussels, 24 April 2018 (OR. en) Council of the European Union Brussels, 24 April 2018 (OR. en) 8279/18 SIRIS 41 COMIX 206 NOTE From: eu-lisa To: Delegations No. prev. doc.: 8400/17 Subject: SIS II - 2017 Statistics Pursuant to Article

More information

Welcome Week. Introduction to the Italian National Health System

Welcome Week. Introduction to the Italian National Health System Welcome Week Introduction to the Italian National Health System Art. 32 of the Italian Constitution The Republic holds health as both a fundamental right of individuals and a common interest and therefore

More information

Table on the ratification process of amendment of art. 136 TFEU, ESM Treaty and Fiscal Compact 1 Foreword

Table on the ratification process of amendment of art. 136 TFEU, ESM Treaty and Fiscal Compact 1 Foreword Table on the ratification process of amendment of art. 136 TFEU, and 1 Foreword This table summarizes the general state of play of the ratification process of the amendment of art. 136 TFEU, the and the

More information

Standard Eurobarometer 88 Autumn Report. Media use in the European Union

Standard Eurobarometer 88 Autumn Report. Media use in the European Union Media use in the European Union Fieldwork November 2017 Survey requested and co-ordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication This document does not represent the point of

More information

Standard Eurobarometer 89 Spring Report. European citizenship

Standard Eurobarometer 89 Spring Report. European citizenship European citizenship Fieldwork March 2018 Survey requested and co-ordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication This document does not represent the point of view of the European

More information

Special Eurobarometer 474. Summary. Europeans perceptions of the Schengen Area

Special Eurobarometer 474. Summary. Europeans perceptions of the Schengen Area Summary Europeans perceptions of the Schengen Area Survey requested by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs and co-ordinated by the Directorate-General for Communication

More information

BIO-EUROPE Anticipated changes to European Patent Law. Ingwer Koch Director Patent Law European Patent Office. 12 November 2007, Hamburg

BIO-EUROPE Anticipated changes to European Patent Law. Ingwer Koch Director Patent Law European Patent Office. 12 November 2007, Hamburg BIO-EUROPE 2007 Anticipated changes to European Patent Law Ingwer Koch Director Patent Law European Patent Office 12 November 2007, Hamburg EPC 2000 Revision Conference: 20 29 November 2000 EPC 2000 enters

More information

Flash Eurobarometer 431. Summary. Electoral Rights

Flash Eurobarometer 431. Summary. Electoral Rights Survey requested by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers and co-ordinated by the Directorate-General for Communication This document does not represent the point of view

More information

European Patents. Page 1 of 6

European Patents. Page 1 of 6 European Patents European patents are granted according to the European Patent Convention. The European Patent Convention is administered by the European Patent Organisation, part of which is the European

More information

Special Eurobarometer 461. Report. Designing Europe s future:

Special Eurobarometer 461. Report. Designing Europe s future: Designing Europe s future: Trust in institutions Globalisation Support for the euro, opinions about free trade and solidarity Fieldwork Survey requested by the European Commission, Directorate-General

More information

PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION Special Eurobarometer 419 PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SUMMARY Fieldwork: June 2014 Publication: October 2014 This survey has been requested by the European Commission, Directorate-General

More information

ERGP REPORT ON CORE INDICATORS FOR MONITORING THE EUROPEAN POSTAL MARKET

ERGP REPORT ON CORE INDICATORS FOR MONITORING THE EUROPEAN POSTAL MARKET ERGP (15) 27 Report on core indicators for monitoring the European postal market ERGP REPORT ON CORE INDICATORS FOR MONITORING THE EUROPEAN POSTAL MARKET 3 December 2015 CONTENTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...

More information

EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP

EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP Standard Eurobarometer 81 Spring 2014 EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP REPORT Fieldwork: June 2014 This survey has been requested and co-ordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication.

More information

EUROPEANS, THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE CRISIS

EUROPEANS, THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE CRISIS Standard Eurobarometer 80 Autumn 2013 EUROPEANS, THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE CRISIS REPORT Fieldwork: November 2013 This survey has been requested and co-ordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General

More information

Key facts and figures about the AR Community and its members

Key facts and figures about the AR Community and its members Key facts and figures about the AR Community and its members May 2009 Key facts and figures about the AR Community and its members 1 Contents ENISA 3 THE AWARENESS RAISING COMMUNITY A SUCCESS STORY 4 THE

More information

Global Dossier

Global Dossier 17-09-2017 Global Dossier Origins Status Future Barnaby HOYAL Patent Examiner September 2017 Barnaby Hoyal GB 2016Examiner in batteries and fuel cells, 2012-2015 Responsible for the EPO s IP5 Global Dossier

More information

Special Eurobarometer 440. Report. Europeans, Agriculture and the CAP

Special Eurobarometer 440. Report. Europeans, Agriculture and the CAP Survey requested by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development and co-ordinated by the Directorate-General for Communication This document does not represent the

More information

WOMEN IN DECISION-MAKING POSITIONS

WOMEN IN DECISION-MAKING POSITIONS Special Eurobarometer 376 WOMEN IN DECISION-MAKING POSITIONS SUMMARY Fieldwork: September 2011 Publication: March 2012 This survey has been requested by Directorate-General Justice and co-ordinated by

More information

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION EUROPEAN COMMISSION Brussels, 27.6.2013 COM(2013) 467 final 2013/0219 (NLE) Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on the position to be adopted, on behalf of the European Union, in the EU-EFTA Joint Committee

More information

A. The image of the European Union B. The image of the European Parliament... 10

A. The image of the European Union B. The image of the European Parliament... 10 Directorate General for Communication Direction C Relations with citizens PUBLIC OPINION MONITORING UNIT EUROPEAN ELECTIONS 2009 25/05/2009 Pre electoral survey First wave First results: European average

More information

EUROBAROMETER The European Union today and tomorrow. Fieldwork: October - November 2008 Publication: June 2010

EUROBAROMETER The European Union today and tomorrow. Fieldwork: October - November 2008 Publication: June 2010 EUROBAROMETER 66 Standard Eurobarometer Report European Commission EUROBAROMETER 70 3. The European Union today and tomorrow Fieldwork: October - November 2008 Publication: June 2010 Standard Eurobarometer

More information

14328/16 MP/SC/mvk 1 DG D 2B

14328/16 MP/SC/mvk 1 DG D 2B Council of the European Union Brussels, 17 November 2016 (OR. en) 14328/16 COPEN 333 EUROJUST 144 EJN 70 NOTE From: To: General Secretariat of the Council Delegations No. prev. doc.: 6069/2/15 REV 2 Subject:

More information

EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP

EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP Standard Eurobarometer 82 Autumn 2014 EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP REPORT Fieldwork: November 2014 This survey has been requested and co-ordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication.

More information

EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP

EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP Standard Eurobarometer 78 Autumn 2012 EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP REPORT Fieldwork: November 2012 This survey has been requested and co-ordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication.

More information

Special Eurobarometer 470. Summary. Corruption

Special Eurobarometer 470. Summary. Corruption Corruption Survey requested by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs and co-ordinated by the Directorate-General for Communication This document does not represent

More information

INTERNAL SECURITY. Publication: November 2011

INTERNAL SECURITY. Publication: November 2011 Special Eurobarometer 371 European Commission INTERNAL SECURITY REPORT Special Eurobarometer 371 / Wave TNS opinion & social Fieldwork: June 2011 Publication: November 2011 This survey has been requested

More information

Flash Eurobarometer 431. Report. Electoral Rights

Flash Eurobarometer 431. Report. Electoral Rights Electoral Rights Survey requested by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers and co-ordinated by the Directorate-General for Communication This document does not represent

More information

PUBLIC OPINION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

PUBLIC OPINION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION Standard Eurobarometer 81 Spring 2014 PUBLIC OPINION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION FIRST RESULTS Fieldwork: June 2014 Publication: July 2014 This survey has been requested and co-ordinated by the European Commission,

More information

Special Eurobarometer 464b. Report

Special Eurobarometer 464b. Report Europeans attitudes towards security Survey requested by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs and co-ordinated by the Directorate-General for Communication This document

More information

Data Protection in the European Union. Data controllers perceptions. Analytical Report

Data Protection in the European Union. Data controllers perceptions. Analytical Report Gallup Flash Eurobarometer N o 189a EU communication and the citizens Flash Eurobarometer European Commission Data Protection in the European Union Data controllers perceptions Analytical Report Fieldwork:

More information

Standard Eurobarometer 89 Spring Report. Europeans and the future of Europe

Standard Eurobarometer 89 Spring Report. Europeans and the future of Europe Fieldwork March 2018 Survey requested and co-ordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication This document does not represent the point of view of the European Commission. The

More information

PATIENTS RIGHTS IN CROSS-BORDER HEALTHCARE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

PATIENTS RIGHTS IN CROSS-BORDER HEALTHCARE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION Special Eurobarometer 425 PATIENTS RIGHTS IN CROSS-BORDER HEALTHCARE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION SUMMARY Fieldwork: October 2014 Publication: May 2015 This survey has been requested by the European Commission,

More information

Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court

Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court www.bardehle.com Content 5 1. The patent-reform package 6 1.1 Legal basis 8 1.2 Legislative objectives 8 1.3 The legal instruments 8 1.3.1 The Regulation on the

More information

EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP

EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP Standard Eurobarometer 80 Autumn 2013 EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP REPORT Fieldwork: November 2013 This survey has been requested and co-ordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication.

More information

Directorate General for Communication Direction C - Relations avec les citoyens PUBLIC OPINION MONITORING UNIT 27 March 2009

Directorate General for Communication Direction C - Relations avec les citoyens PUBLIC OPINION MONITORING UNIT 27 March 2009 Directorate General for Communication Direction C - Relations avec les citoyens PUBLIC OPINION MONITORING UNIT 27 March 2009 EUROPEANS AND THE ECONOMIC CRISIS Standard Eurobarometer (EB 71) Population:

More information

This document is available on the English-language website of the Banque de France

This document is available on the English-language website of the Banque de France JUNE 7 This document is available on the English-language website of the www.banque-france.fr Countries ISO code Date of entry into the euro area Fixed euro conversion rates France FR //999.97 Germany

More information

Special Eurobarometer 455

Special Eurobarometer 455 EU Citizens views on development, cooperation and November December 2016 Survey conducted by TNS opinion & social at the request of the European Commission, Directorate-General for International Cooperation

More information

EUROPEAN YOUTH: PARTICIPATION IN DEMOCRATIC LIFE

EUROPEAN YOUTH: PARTICIPATION IN DEMOCRATIC LIFE Flash Eurobarometer 375 EUROPEAN YOUTH: PARTICIPATION IN DEMOCRATIC LIFE SUMMARY Fieldwork: April 2013 Publication: May 2013 This survey has been requested by the European Commission, Directorate-General

More information

PUBLIC OPINION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

PUBLIC OPINION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION Standard Eurobarometer 77 Spring 2012 PUBLIC OPINION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION REPORT Fieldwork: May 2012 This survey has been requested and co-ordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General for

More information

UNITARY PATENT PROTECTION (UPP) PACKAGE

UNITARY PATENT PROTECTION (UPP) PACKAGE UNITARY PATENT PROTECTION (UPP) PACKAGE LECCA & ASSOCIATES Ltd. August 1-2, 2014 Hong Kong, China SAR Objectives & Issues Creation of Unitary Patent (UP) Unitary Patent Court (UPC) A single harmonized

More information

MEDIA USE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

MEDIA USE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION Standard Eurobarometer 76 Autumn 2011 MEDIA USE IN THE EUROPEAN UNION REPORT Fieldwork: November 2011 Publication: March 2012 This survey has been requested and co-ordinated by Directorate-General for

More information

Special Eurobarometer 467. Report. Future of Europe. Social issues

Special Eurobarometer 467. Report. Future of Europe. Social issues Future of Europe Social issues Fieldwork Publication November 2017 Survey requested by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication and co-ordinated by the Directorate- General for Communication

More information

Firearms in the European Union

Firearms in the European Union Flash Eurobarometer 383 Firearms in the European Union SUMMARY Fieldwork: September 2013 Publication: October 2013 This survey has been requested by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Home

More information

"Science, Research and Innovation Performance of the EU 2018"

Science, Research and Innovation Performance of the EU 2018 "Science, Research and Innovation Performance of the EU 2018" Innovation, Productivity, Jobs and Inequality ERAC Workshop Brussels, 4 October 2017 DG RTD, Unit A4 Key messages More robust economic growth

More information

European Innovation Scoreboard 2017

European Innovation Scoreboard 2017 Ref. Ares(2017)3070959-19/06/2017 European Innovation Scoreboard 2017 Annex B Performance per indicator EUROPEAN COMMISSION Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

More information

ECI campaign run by a loosely-coordinated network of active volunteers

ECI campaign run by a loosely-coordinated network of active volunteers 3. Stop Vivisection Adriano Varrica Editor s summary: This ECI was created by a loose coalition of individual animal rights activists and national animal protection groups to develop European legislation

More information

Utility Models in Southeast Asia and Europe and their Strategic Use in Litigation. Talk Outline. Introduction & Background

Utility Models in Southeast Asia and Europe and their Strategic Use in Litigation. Talk Outline. Introduction & Background Utility Models in Southeast Asia and Europe and their Strategic Use in Litigation Dr. Fritz Wetzel Patent Attorney, European Patent and Trademark Attorney Page: 1 Page: 2 1. Introduction & Background 2.

More information

INTERNATIONAL KEY FINDINGS

INTERNATIONAL KEY FINDINGS 17 5 45 INTERNATIONAL KEY FINDINGS 8 4 WWW.MIPEX.EU Key findings 00 nearly 20 million residents (or 4) are noneu citizens The loweducated make up 37 of workingage noneu immigrants in EU Employment rates

More information

Women in the EU. Fieldwork : February-March 2011 Publication: June Special Eurobarometer / Wave 75.1 TNS Opinion & Social EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Women in the EU. Fieldwork : February-March 2011 Publication: June Special Eurobarometer / Wave 75.1 TNS Opinion & Social EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Women in the EU Eurobaromètre Spécial / Vague 74.3 TNS Opinion & Social Fieldwork : February-March 2011 Publication: June 2011 Special Eurobarometer / Wave 75.1 TNS Opinion & Social

More information

EU-Labour Force Survey November 2013 release. Setup for Importing the Anonymised Yearly Data Sets for

EU-Labour Force Survey November 2013 release. Setup for Importing the Anonymised Yearly Data Sets for EU-Labour Force Survey Data Service German Microdata Lab German Microdata Lab EU-Labour Force Survey November 2013 release Setup for Importing the Anonymised Yearly Data Sets for 1983-2012 Content I. Overview

More information

The European Patent Office

The European Patent Office The Facts and Figures Dominique Winne Examiner (ICT) 7 November 2017 Who am I? Dominique Winne (BE) Ph.D. in Image Communication Joined EPO in 2004 as patent examiner technical field: H04N1/38-64 (colour

More information

EU DEVELOPMENT AID AND THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

EU DEVELOPMENT AID AND THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS Special Eurobarometer 405 EU DEVELOPMENT AID AND THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS REPORT Fieldwork: May - June 2013 Publication: November 2013 This survey has been requested by the European Commission,

More information

Patent litigation in Europe Major changes to come. Anne-Charlotte Le Bihan, Partner, Bird & Bird ABPI, Rio de Janeiro August 20, 2013

Patent litigation in Europe Major changes to come. Anne-Charlotte Le Bihan, Partner, Bird & Bird ABPI, Rio de Janeiro August 20, 2013 Patent litigation in Europe Major changes to come Anne-Charlotte Le Bihan, Partner, Bird & Bird ABPI, Rio de Janeiro August 20, 2013 Introduction: Patent litigation in Europe today and tomorrow Patent

More information

Flash Eurobarometer 430. Report. European Union Citizenship

Flash Eurobarometer 430. Report. European Union Citizenship European Union Citizenship Survey requested by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers and co-ordinated by the Directorate-General for Communication This document does not

More information

Flash Eurobarometer 354. Entrepreneurship COUNTRY REPORT GREECE

Flash Eurobarometer 354. Entrepreneurship COUNTRY REPORT GREECE Flash Eurobarometer 354 Entrepreneurship COUNTRY REPORT GREECE Fieldwork: June 2012 This survey has been requested by the European Commission, Directorate-General Enterprise and Industry and co-ordinated

More information

ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE EU AND BEYOND

ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE EU AND BEYOND Flash Eurobarometer 354 ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE EU AND BEYOND COUNTRY REPORT GERMANY Fieldwork: June 2012 This survey has been requested by the European Commission, Directorate-General Enterprise and Industry

More information

Labour market integration of low skilled migrants in Europe: Economic impact. Gudrun Biffl

Labour market integration of low skilled migrants in Europe: Economic impact. Gudrun Biffl Labour market integration of low skilled migrants in Europe: Economic impact Gudrun Biffl Contribution to the Conference on Managing Migration and Integration: Europe & the US University of California-Berkeley,

More information

Europe-wide patent protection and the competence of the Unified Patent Court

Europe-wide patent protection and the competence of the Unified Patent Court the competence of ERA conference on recent developments in European private and business law Trier, 20 November 2014 by Dr Klaus Grabinski Judge, Federal Supreme Court I. Status quo 1. National patent

More information

Official Journal of the European Union L 256/5

Official Journal of the European Union L 256/5 24.9.2008 Official Journal of the European Union L 256/5 COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 933/2008 of 23 September 2008 amending the Annex to Council Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 as regards the means of identification

More information

The European Patent Office An introduction to the EPO and the European patent system. Jesus Roldan Andrade, EPO 27 September 2013

The European Patent Office An introduction to the EPO and the European patent system. Jesus Roldan Andrade, EPO 27 September 2013 The European Patent Office An introduction to the EPO and the European patent system Jesus Roldan Andrade, EPO 27 September 2013 01/10/2013 Contents The patent system Basics About us Statistics Contact

More information

ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE EU AND BEYOND

ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE EU AND BEYOND Flash Eurobarometer 354 ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE EU AND BEYOND COUNTRY REPORT JAPAN Fieldwork: July 2012 This survey has been requested by the European Commission, Directorate-General Enterprise and Industry

More information

Identification of the respondent: Fields marked with * are mandatory.

Identification of the respondent: Fields marked with * are mandatory. Towards implementing European Public Sector Accounting Standards (EPSAS) for EU Member States - Public consultation on future EPSAS governance principles and structures Fields marked with are mandatory.

More information

Europeans attitudes towards climate change

Europeans attitudes towards climate change Special Eurobarometer 313 EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT EUROPEAN COMMISSION Europeans attitudes towards climate change Special Eurobarometer 313 / Wave 71.1 TNS Opinion & Social Report Fieldwork: January - February

More information

PUBLIC OPINION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

PUBLIC OPINION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION Standard Eurobarometer 79 Spring 2013 PUBLIC OPINION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION FIRST RESULTS Fieldwork: May 2013 Publication: July 2013 This survey has been requested and co-ordinated by the European Commission,

More information

Flash Eurobarometer 364 ELECTORAL RIGHTS REPORT

Flash Eurobarometer 364 ELECTORAL RIGHTS REPORT Flash Eurobarometer ELECTORAL RIGHTS REPORT Fieldwork: November 2012 Publication: March 2013 This survey has been requested by the European Commission, Directorate-General Justice and co-ordinated by Directorate-General

More information

Integration by Granting Practices: National Patent Offices and the EPO: Harmonization, Centralization or Networking?

Integration by Granting Practices: National Patent Offices and the EPO: Harmonization, Centralization or Networking? Integration by Granting Practices: National Patent Offices and the EPO: Harmonization, Centralization or Networking? Georg Artelsmair ESF SCSS Exploratory Workshop: The Future of Patent Governance in Europe

More information

ATTITUDES OF EUROPEANS TOWARDS TOURISM

ATTITUDES OF EUROPEANS TOWARDS TOURISM Flash Eurobarometer 370 ATTITUDES OF EUROPEANS TOWARDS TOURISM SUMMARY Fieldwork: January 2013 Publication: March 2013 This survey has been requested by the European Commission, Directorate-General for

More information

THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN FACTS & FIGURES

THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN FACTS & FIGURES THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN FACTS & FIGURES 2017 This document has been prepared by the Public Relations Unit of the Court, and does not bind the Court. It is intended to provide basic general

More information

Immigration process for foreign highly qualified Indian professionals benchmarked against the main economic powers in the EU and other major

Immigration process for foreign highly qualified Indian professionals benchmarked against the main economic powers in the EU and other major Immigration process for foreign highly qualified Indian professionals benchmarked against the main economic powers in the EU and other major countries around the world Brochure / report title goes here

More information