Patent Law. 1. Auflage. Patent Law Haedicke / Timmann / Bukow / et al. schnell und portofrei erhältlich bei beck-shop.de DIE FACHBUCHHANDLUNG

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1 Patent Law von Maximilian Haedicke, Dr. Henrik Timmann, Dr. Johannes Bukow, Dr. Dirk Bühler, Dr. Felix Harbsmeier, Dr. Lorenz Hartmann, Dr. Dietrich Kamlah, Dr. Felix Landry, Dr. Ralph Nack, Dr. Joel Nägerl, Dr. Rüdiger Pansch, Marco Stief, Axel Verhauwen 1. Auflage Patent Law Haedicke / Timmann / Bukow / et al. schnell und portofrei erhältlich bei beck-shop.de DIE FACHBUCHHANDLUNG Thematische Gliederung: Patentrecht, Gebrauchsmuster Verlag C.H. Beck München 2014 Verlag C.H. Beck im Internet: ISBN

2 Haedicke/Timmann (eds.) Patent Law Handbook European and German Patent Law

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4 Patent Law Handbook European and German Patent Law edited by Maximilian Haedicke and Henrik Timmann C. H. Beck Hart Nomos 2013

5 Published by Verlag C. H. Beck ohg, Wilhelmstraße 9, München, Germany, Co-published by Hart Publishing, 16C Worcester Place, Oxford, OXI 2JW, United Kingdom, online at: and Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbh & Co. KG Waldseestraße Baden-Baden, Germany nomos@nomos.de Published in North America (US and Canada) by Hart Publishing, c/o International Specialized Book Services, 930 NE 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR , USA, orders@isbs.com ISBN (Beck) ISBN (Hart Publishing) ISBN (Nomos) 2013 Verlag C. H. Beck ohg Wilhelmstr. 9, München Printed in Germany by fgb freiburger graphische betriebe GmbH & Co. KG Bebelstraße 11, Freiburg Typeset by Reemers Publishing Services GmbH, Krefeld All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission of Verlag C. H. Beck, or as expressly permitted by law under the terms agreed with the appropriate reprographic rights organisation. Enquiries concerning reproduction which may not be covered by the above should be addressed to C. H. Beck at the address above.

6 Foreword The practical relevance of German patent law and of European patent law as applied in Germany is reflected in its enormous economic impact, Germany being Europe s most important location for patent infringement suits and the country in which most European patent applications are filed. Hence, German patent law is of particular interest not only for German practitioners, but for practitioners throughout the world. Literally everybody who is concerned with patents in Europe has to take the legal situation in Germany into account. Furthermore, German patent-related legal research and case law have evolved for more than a century, strongly influencing European patent law. It is a further goal of this book to make such long-standing principles accessible to those unfamiliar with the German language in order to enrich the international debate in all legal matters related to patents. Thus, the Patent Law Handbook is meant for lawyers, legal and patent departments of business entities, as well as judges and administrative bodies worldwide, in order to support them in their day-to-day business when they are concerned with questions relating specifically to German patent law, and in order to allow a comparison of their own legal assessment with German principles. For these purposes, this book offers a comprehensive presentation and analysis of the substantive issues of German, European and international patent law. It also covers procedural aspects insofar as they do not relate solely to the German court system and therefore seem to be of international interest. The content of this book is essentially an English translation of its parallel German publication Handbuch des Patentrechts, which was published in 2012 by C. H. Beck. Some sections of the German equivalent have been adapted to better meet international needs, one section covering purely procedural aspects of infringement suits has been omitted. The authors of the Patent Law Handbook are judges, attorneys, patent attorneys and researchers. All of them have years of experience in the field of patent law and practice. The editors wish to thank all the authors for their unrelenting efforts and work. Literature and case law up to February 2012 have been taken into account. Freiburg and Düsseldorf, August 2013 Maximilian Haedicke Henrik Timmann V

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8 Content Overview Foreword... List of Contributors... Abbreviations and Acronyms... Bibliography V VII XIII XIX XXIII 1. Introduction A. Ambit, meaning, goals and means of patent law (Haedicke)... 3 B. Historic development (Haedicke)... 7 C. Relevant sources of law (Haedicke) D. Patent law and neighbouring legal fields (Haedicke) E. Patent law and competition law (Haedicke) F. Patent law and the European Single Market (Haedicke) Inventions and their amenability to patent protection A. The Technical Invention criterion (Nack) B. Catalogue of exclusions (Section. 1 para. 3 4 PatG resp. Art. 52 para. 2 3 EPC) (Nack) C. The industrial applicability criterion (Nack) D. Obstacles to protection (Nack) E. Differentiation from the state of the art (Nägerl/Walder-Hartmann) F. Realisability and sufficiency of disclosure for realisability (Nägerl/Walder- Hartmann) Ownership A. Inventor and inventor right (Haedicke) B. Multiple owners (Chakraborty) C. Recovery of inventors rights (rei vindicatio) (Timmann/Pansch) Patent transfer and licensing A. Common foundations of patent transfer and licensing (Haedicke) B. Full transfer of patents (Haedicke) C. Licenses (Haedicke) Grant and rejection of patents A. The proceedings for grant (Landry) B. Opposition proceedings (Landry/Harbsmeier) C. Appeal proceedings (Landry) D. Nullity proceedings (Landry) E. Limitation and revocation proceedings (Landry) F. Lapse without retroactive effect (Landry) IX

9 Overview Content Overview 6. Interpretation and scope of protection of patents A. Basic outline (Timmann) B. The importance of the patent specification as a source for interpretation (Timmann) C. The importance of sources outside the patent specification (Timmann) D. Extension of the scope of protection to equivalents (Timmann) Chemical and biological inventions A. Introduction and development (Stief/Bühler) B. Definitions, exceptions and special cases regarding biological inventions (Stief/Bühler) C. Prerequisites for patent registration (Stief/Bühler) D. Scope of protection and types of claims (Stief/Bühler) E. Effects of the patent (Stief/Bühler) Use of a patent A. General (Haedicke/Timmann) B. Direct use of a patent (Haedicke/Timmann) C. Indirect use of a patent (Haedicke/Timmann) D. Liability and imputation (Haedicke/Timmann) Defences A. Permitted acts under Section 11 PatG (Bukow) B. Exhaustion (Bukow) C. Prior use law according to Section 12 PatG (Bukow) D. Defence of invalidity (Bukow) E. Fraudulant abstraction (Bukow) F. Objection of a compulsory licence under antitrust law (Bukow) G. Forfeiture of rights (Bukow) Legal consequences of patent infringement A. Creditors and debtors of claims for infringement (Kamlah) B. Injunctive relief (Kamlah) C. Claim for damages (Kamlah) D. Claims for unjust enrichment and claims for compensation (Kamlah) E. Claims for information and accounts (Kamlah) F. Claim for recall and destruction (Kamlah) G. Statute of limitation for the claims (Kamlah) H. Publication of a judgment (Kamlah) European Patent and European Patent Court I. Current position (Verhauwen) II. The European Patent with unitary effect (Verhauwen) X

10 Content Overview Overview 12. Other proceedings and claims in patent cases A. Criminal patent law (Verhauwen) B. Border seizure proceedings (Verhauwen) C. Allegation of entitlement and misleading advertising (Verhauwen) D. Claims arising from unjustified warnings of property right infringement (Verhauwen) The law of utility models A. General (Stief/Bühler) B. Protection: Subject-matter and prerequisites (Stief/Bühler) C. Inventor s rights and invention ownership (Stief/Bühler) D. Formation and expiration of the utility model (Stief/Bühler) E. Content and scope of protection of the utility model (Stief/Bühler) F. Utility models in business transactions (Stief/Bühler) G. Consequences of the utility model infringement under civil law (Stief/Bühler) 1027 H. Consequences of the utility model infringement under criminal law (Stief/ Bühler) I. Utility model infringement action (Stief/Bühler) J. Unjustly claiming a utility model (Stief/Bühler) The supplementary protection certificate A. General, purpose, history and legal character of the certificate (Stief/Bühler) B. Substantive granting prerequisites (Stief/Bühler) C. Calculation of term (Stief/Bühler) D. Subject matter and scope of protection (Stief/Bühler) E. Rights, limitations and obligations (Stief/Bühler) F. Grant procedure (Stief/Bühler) G. Expiry, invalidity and revocation (Stief/Bühler) H. Remedies (Stief/Bühler) Index Editors and authors XI

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12 Foreword... List of Contributors... Content overview... Abbreviations and Acronyms... Bibliography... V VII IX XI XVII 1. Introduction A. Ambit, meaning, goals and means of patent law... 3 I. Subject matter and legal principles... 4 II. Aims and justifications of patent law... 5 III. Critique... 6 B. Historic development... 7 I. The German patent law until II. German patent law until III. Reunification... 9 IV. Development of European patent law V. Recent developments European patent law Changes of the German Patent Act C. Relevant sources of law I. European patent law European Patent Convention (EPC) Implementing Regulations to the Convention on the Grant of European Patents Guidelines for Examination Protocol on the Interpretation of Article 69 EPC The London Agreement on the Application of Article 65 EPC Decision, communications and other legal acts II. Legal sources of the German patent law German Patent Act (PatG) Utility Models Act (Gebrauchsmustergesetz/GebrMG) Laws governing costs and fees Employee Invention Act (Arbeitnehmererfindergesetz/ArbnErfG) Law on international patent conventions (Gesetz über Interntionale Patentübereinkommen/IntPatÜG) III. International patent law The Paris Convention (PC) Strasbourg Convention Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) TRIPS-Agreement Failed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) TRIPS-plus Free trade agreement IV. Legal sources of EU patent law Primary community law (Art. 34, 36, 101, 102 TFEU) Secondary community law a) Directives b) Regulations D. Patent law and neighbouring legal fields I. Constitutional law XXIII

13 II. Civil law Tort law Contract law Law of unjust enrichment Property law III. Patent and other intellectual property rights Patent and copyright law Patent and trademark law Patent law and the Plant Variety Protection Act IV. Patent law and the law against unfair competition Technical achievements with commercial particularity Statutory actions V. Patent law and protection of technical know-how Overview Patent and know-how protection Reasons for know-how protection next to patent protection E. Patent law and competition law I. General Patents as restrains on competition? The pharmaceutical sector enquiry of the European Commission and its tendencies of development German and European competition law II. Prohibition of agreements and practices restraining competition according to Art. 101 TFEU Overview Cases of patent related competition restraints a) Transfers of IP rights b) Agreements to license c) Pay-for-delay agreement d) Patent pools and standardizing agencies Exemption according to Art. 101 para. 3 TFEU a) General b) Technology transfer block exemption regulation (772/2004/EC) c) EU rule on research and development agreements (1217/2010/EU) d) BER on specialisation agreements (1218/2010/EU) e) BER on vertical agreements and concerted practices (330/2010/EU) f) Guidelines on the applicability of Article 101 TFEU to horizontal co-operation agreements (2011/C 11/01) III. Prohibition of abuse according to Art. 102 TFEU Meaning Dominant position in the market a) Tenet b) Market dominance on the product and license market c) Particularities of market delineation in the pharmaceutical sector Abuse of a market dominating position a) General b) Attainment of a market dominant position as abuse? c) Extension of an existing market dominant position with the help of patents d) Patent acquisition by means of misleading application information e) Assessment of defensive patent strategies blocking patents f) Patent thickets g) Price abuse h) Deregistration and life cycle strategies in the pharmaceutical sector i) Violation of competition law with respect to parallel importers j) License denial IV. Patent law and merger control Meaning Acquisition of assets (sec. 37 para. 1 no. 1 GWB) XXIV

14 3. Acquisition of control (sec. 37 para. 1 no. 2 lit. a GWB) Essentiality a) Scope of application b) Essentiality when acquiring assets (sec. 37 para. 1 no. 1 GWB) c) Essentiality when acquiring control (sec. 37 para. 1 no. 2 GWB) European merger control Turnover threshold F. Patent law and the European Single Market I. Patents as non-tariff trade barriers according to Art. 34, 36 TFEU II. European exhaustion Content Legal basis Exhaustion of IP rights after placing goods in circulation in EU member states which lack patent-protection for such goods No exhaustion from placing products in circulation due to compulsory licenses European and international exhaustion III. Compulsory licenses IV. No disguised restrictions on trade Inventions and their amenability to patent protection A. The Technical Invention criterion I. Summary II. Introduction The concept of invention as a functional legal term The limiting function of the invention concept Dynamic openness of the concept of invention III. Approach by consideration of inventiveness Principle Achievement-related approach in case law a) German case law b) EPO Board of Appeal case law The principle of achievement-related consideration in the literature Special examples of the principle of achievement-related consideration in case law and literature a) The extreme core theory b) Technical contribution to the art c) Technical thinking d) Technical problem criterion e) Technical effect criterion Alternatives to the principle of achievement-related consideration? a) The teaching of assessment in entirety or phenotypical consideration b) The balanced consideration approach IV. The technical art in patent law: Tradition Theory Principle Other definitions of the term technical invention in case law and literature a) The Red Dove Formula b) Technical invention as a problem solution c) The development of features of a patentable invention d) Reproducibility (workability), being finished and technical usefulness as features of a technical invention e) Progressiveness as a feature of the technical invention f) Social usefulness as a feature of technical inventions g) Repeatability as a feature of the technical invention h) Orientation by economic and commercial criteria B. Catalogue of exclusions (Section. 1 para. 3 4 PatG resp. Art. 52 para. 2 3 EPC) I. Abstract II. History of the catalogue of exclusions XXV

15 III. Principle IV. Discoveries Linguistic meaning Legal significance a) Patentability of natural materials b) Patentability of functional discoveries c) The problem of inventive step in a discovery d) The problem of practical applicability e) The problem of abstract claims V. Scientific theories VI. Mathematical methods Linguistic meaning Legal significance Other interpretations in case law and literature a) Absolute bar to the patentability of mathematical algorithms b) Requirement of linkage to a purpose in the patent claim VII. Aesthetic creations Linguistic meaning Legal significance VIII. Plans, rules and methods for intellectual activities Linguistic meaning Legal significance a) Mnemonic techniques, sorting diagrams, book-keeping and stenography techniques, teaching methods, etc b) Forms, symbols and scales, etc c) Advertising techniques d) Ground plans for houses, etc e) Computer programs f) No monopoly on thinking? IX. Plans, rules and methods for playing games X. Plans, rules and methods for business activities Linguistic meaning Legal significance a) EPO Appeal Board case law b) German case law XI. Programs for data processing equipment Linguistic meaning Legal significance a) Principle b) Approaches to interpretation in German case law c) Interpretation approaches in EPO practice d) Interpretation in the literature e) Evaluation of case law XII. Presentation of information Linguistic meaning Legal significance a) Principle b) Cases C. The industrial applicability criterion I. Principle II. Industrial applicability of genetic sequences (Section 1 a para. 3 PatG) D. Obstacles to protection I. General remarks II. Offence against ordre public and morality Ordre public Morality III. Special provisions concerning biotechnology inventions XXVI

16 E. Differentiation from the state of the art I. Legal sources Legal sources for the European patent Legal sources for German patents II. The skilled person The person skilled in the art General knowledge of the skilled person The skilled person s technical field The skills of the person skilled in the art Expert groups III. The patent claim the claimed invention Claim categories Interpretation of patent claims The problem on which the invention is based Priority of the claimed invention Substances for medical procedures IV. State of the art Basic concept Different sources of disclosure a) Written sources b) Oral sources of disclosure c) Public prior use d) Other forms of disclosure Public access a) Examples of access to written descriptions b) Examples of accessibility of oral descriptions c) Examples of prior public use The priority of prior knowledge Later published patent applications with a earlier priority as state of the art: Senior rights a) Senior rights in relation to national patent applications b) Senior rights in relation to European patent applications and European patents of the sources of disclosure a) General rules for establishing disclosed content b) Inevitable features and (interim) results c) Implicit disclosure, inherent features d) The technical drawing e) Chemical formulae f) Intervals of parameters g) Functional connection h) Reference to other documents i) Realizability j) Mistakes in publication k) Medical uses l) Sources of information of a later date (auxiliary information sources) Non-prejudicial disclosures a) In the event of abuse b) International exhibitions V. Novelty Meaning and purpose Assessing novelty a) The patent claims as the key subject-matter of the invention under examination b) The skilled person c) The timing of examination d) The individual comparison e) Criteria for novelty-destroying disclosure of features XXVII

17 f) Senior rights g) The disclaimer h) Substances for medical procedures Non-prejudicial disclosures The relationship with other legal requirements VI. Inventive step Significance and purpose Assessing inventive step a) Patent claims as the decisive object of examination b) Consistent subject-matter c) The actual contribution d) The date of the examination e) The relevant prior art f) Combining citations g) The person skilled in the art and consultation of other skilled persons from other technical fields h) Criteria for a solution to be obvious from the state of the art ff) Combinations of known individual features known i) Evidence for the presence of inventive step: supporting considerations j) Mistakes in the patent application Substances for medical processes Relations to other legal requirements a) Relation to technicality b) Relation to realizability (reproducibility) c) Relation to an inadmissible extension d) Relation to clarity e) Relation to unity F. Realisability and sufficiency of disclosure for realisability I. Legal sources II. Realisability Connection with the concept of invention Aspects of realisability a) Usefulness b) Completeness c) Repeatability d) Further aspects? Relation to other patentability criteria Relation to the requirement of sufficient disclosure Practical consequences III. Sufficient disclosure The invention Disclosure a) Clearness b) Completeness Ability to carry out an invention a) The decisive point in time when the invention can be carried out b) Examination of disclosure for the purposes of realisability Particularities in the case of biotechnology Proof of sufficiency of disclosure and the burden of proof Ownership A. Inventor and inventor right I. Overview II. The inventor Inventor as natural person Inventor as material beneficiary and the applicant fiction XXVIII

18 III. The inventive process Physical act Completion and announcement of the invention IV. Personal inventor right V. Right of invention and right to a patent Emergence Scope of protection Classification B. Multiple owners I. Criteria for joint inventorship Nature of the contribution a) Intellectual collaboration b) Creative contribution c) Independence of the contribution d) For resolving a particular problem Commonality of the invention II. The inventor s rights in the case of a joint invention The inventor s personal rights in the case of a joint invention The property-right components of the co-inventor s rights III. Derivative acquisition of joint inventorship of the invention IV. Legal relationship of the co-inventors to the invention The Partnership of part owners a) Agreement relating to the partnership b) Free disposal of the inventor s rights as part of the partnership assets c) Administration of the inventor s rights d) Use of the invention e) Claims for compensation and indemnification f) Termination and dissolution of the partnership Co-ownership by defined shares a) Size of the share b) Disposal of the invention as a whole and the ownership share c) Administration d) Right of use of the part owners e) Claim for compensation f) Termination and dissolution of the partnership V. Double inventors VI. Plurality of Patent owners in proceedings Partnership of part owners Partnership of part owners C. Recovery of inventors rights (rei vindicatio) I. The claims to the recovery of an inventor s rights Persons entitled a) The inventor or his successor in title b) The possessor of the invention injured by usurpation Obligor Subject matter of the recovery of rights a) Total or partial recovery of rights b) Identical nature c) Identical invention d) Finished invention e) No examination of patentability Cut-off period with exceptions Forfeiture of rights II. Ancillary claims of the obligee and obligor III. Asserting the recovery of rights by taking legal action Jurisdiction a) International jurisdiction XXIX

19 b) Local jurisdiction c) Substantive jurisdiction Need for legal protection and relationship with other legal remedies Motions Obligation to present arguments, and burden of proof Further aspects IV. Securing the claim to the recovery of rights by means of a temporary injunction Content of the protective measure a) Protecting German patent applications and patents, including German parts of granted European patents b) Protecting European patent applications c) Protecting foreign intellectual property rights including foreign parts of granted European patents Requirements regarding the obligation to present evidence and arguments in support of the entitlement to an injunction Grounds for an injunction a) Claim to the recovery of rights specifically jeopardised b) Refutation of urgency Cautions dispensable V. The defence of fraudulent intent in patent infringement proceedings VI. Usurpation as a ground for revocation in German opposition proceedings Conditions Principle of arguments presented intra partes and principle that the parties delimit the subject matter of the proceedings Relationship with the proceedings for the recovery of rights and the need for legal protection Right to make a second filing VII. Usurpation or lack of entitlement as a ground for nullity in nullity proceedings VIII. Intervention in the European patent grant procedure Staying the proceedings for grant Prohibition on withdrawal Triple choice Patent transfer and licensing A. Common foundations of patent transfer and licensing I. Relevance and sources of law II. Transferrable patent rights The patent and its antecedent forms as legal transfer objects Transfer of patents as part of technology transfer agreements III. Forms of patent transfer Full transfer Limited transfer of rights Transfer due to death IV. Dispositions, seperation principle and the principle of the abstract nature of rights in rem V. No bona fide acquisition VI. Anticipatory disposal VII. Rules of interpretation and the theory of transfer tied to purpose VIII. Relevance of the patent registry for the assignment of rights IX. Application of rules of general civil law Rescission Ineffectiveness and invalidity, sec. 134, 138 BGB Applicability of further civil law rules B. Full transfer of patents I. General II. Form III. Default in performance and warranty for defects XXX

20 1. Warranty in law of sales a) Preliminary notes b) Liability for defects c) Liability for sound title Liability for failure to perform C. Licenses I. Economic relevance and statutory provisions II. Terminology III. Form IV. Structure of exclusive and non-exclusive licenses Preliminary notes a) Necessity of approximation between types of licenses b) Structural independence irrespective of the breadth of rights assigned Exclusive licenses Non-exclusive licenses a) The legal position of the non-exclusive licensee b) Non-exclusive license as positive right of use Sole licenses Negative licenses Consent V. Dogmatic fundamentals of the granting of a license Relevance of this inquiry Licenses as rights in rem a) Exclusive licenses b) Non-exclusive licenses as right in rem Separation principle and the principle of the abstract nature of rights in rem VI. Issuance of sub-licenses and transfer of licenses Issuance of sub-licenses a) Disposition by authorised party b) Approval requirements Transfer of licenses a) Exclusive licenses b) Non-exclusive licenses c) Consequences of the invalidity of the obligation to transfer the license Consequences of the unauthorized issuing of sub-licenses or transfer of licenses. 320 VII. Elements of contract design Overview Personal scope of application Territory subject to a license Duration Modalities of remuneration Rights of use a) Overview b) Production and distribution license c) License for use d) Simultaneous transfer of patent related know-how Non-challenge clause Restraint of competition Warranty Other typical contractual obligations Differentiation between the infringement of the exectuory agreement and the patent a) Necessity of the differentiation b) Limits to splitting up agreements to license c) Consequences of infringement VIII. Protection against interim dispositions Overview and dogmatic classification Effect of protection against interim dispositions XXXI

21 IX. Termination of licenses Expiry of term of protection and other reasons for the cessation of a patent Termination or cessation of a license a) Prevailing opinion b) Conclusions from the application of the principle of the abstract nature of rights in rem c) Exceptional automatic return despite the applicability of the principle of the abstract nature of rights in rem Consequences of the cessation of the primary license for the sub-license Grant and rejection of patents A. The proceedings for grant I. The European Proceedings for Grant Overview of the proceedings and its stages The application a) Two ways to file a European patent application: Direct application and Euro PCT application b) The applicant and his representative c) Text of the application and drawings d) Request for grant e) Fees f) Designation of the inventor g) Priority Background h) Obligation to mention the prior art i) Filing requirements for the accordance of a date of filing j) Filing an application Effect of a filing Examination on filing and examination as to formal requirements a) Examination on filing b) Examination as to formal requirements Search a) Subject-matter of the search b) Scope of the considered state of the art c) The search report d) The applicant s response to the search report Publication of the application Examination procedure a) Summary b) Request for examination c) Communications during examination d) Observations by third parties e) Response options of the applicant f) Oral proceedings g) Grant h) Refusal i) Appeal and correction of decisions Amendments and corrections a) Time limitations for amendments b) Procedural limitations for amendments c) Subject-matter limitations for amendments d) Correction of errors and mistakes Divisional applications a) Applicant of a divisional application b) Period for filing a divisional application c) Subject-matter and content of a divisional application Special requirements for PCT applications XXXII

22 11. Time limits and failure to observe time limits a) Calculation of periods b) Extension of a time limit c) Observation of a time limit d) Failure to observe a time limit Accelerated prosecution of applications II. National patent grant procedure Overview of the procedure and its stages The application a) Two paths to a German patent application: direct application and PCT application b) The applicant and its representative c) Application text and drawings d) Request e) Fees f) Designation of the inventor g) Priority h) Minimum requirements for the accordance of a date of filing i) Filing of the application Examination for obvious defects Search a) Search request b) Subject-matter of the search c) Scope of consideration of prior art d) The search report Publication of the application Examination procedure a) Overview b) Request for examination c) Examiner s communications d) Options of the applicant e) Hearing f) Grant g) Rejection h) Appeal from and correction of decisions Amendments and corrections a) Time limits for amendments b) Restrictions regarding the nature of amendments c) Implementation of amendments d) Correction of errors Divisional applications a) Divisional applications b) Divisional applications by elimination Special requirements for PCT applications Time limits and failure to observe time limits a) Further processing b) Reinstatement B. Opposition proceedings I. The procedure before the European Patent Office Purpose, nature and object of the proceedings Grounds for opposition a) Lack of patentability b) Insufficiency of disclosure c) Inadmissible extension d) No grounds for opposition Overview of the course of the proceedings Admissibility a) Right to file an opposition XXXIII

23 b) Formal requirements c) Sufficiency of substantiation d) Examining admissibility Substantive examination of the opposition a) Extent of the substantive examination b) Grounds for opposition c) Prior use as prior art The patent proprietor s options for taking action and the written procedure Oral proceedings a) Preparing for oral proceedings b) The course of the oral proceedings Decision Costs Appeal Intervention Procedural matters a) Right to be heard b) Time limits and failure to observe them c) Lateness d) Withdrawal of the opposition Change of the patent proprietor during opposition proceedings Change in the person of the opponent Accelerating the proceedings II. The proceedings before the German Patent and Trade Mark Office Purpose, nature and object of the proceedings Grounds for opposition a) Lack of patentability b) Insufficiency of disclosure c) Inadmissible extension d) Usurpation Course of the proceedings Admissibility a) Right to file an opposition b) Formal requirements c) Substantiation d) Examining admissibility Substantive examination of the opposition a) Extent of the substantive examination b) Grounds for opposition The patent proprietor s options for taking action Oral proceedings Decision Costs Appeal Intervention Procedural matters a) Right to be heard b) Time limits c) Lateness d) Withdrawal of the opposition Change of patent proprietor during the opposition proceedings Change in the person of the opponent C. Appeal proceedings I. Proceedings according to the EPC Purpose, nature and object of the proceedings Overview of the course of the proceedings Effects of filing an appeal XXXIV

24 4. Admissibility a) Appealable decisions b) Entitlement to appeal c) Notice of appeal d) Grounds for appeal Amendments to the patent application or the patent a) Principles b) Issues specific to multilateral proceedings Oral proceedings a) Principles b) Preparing for oral proceedings c) Conduct of the oral proceedings Decision a) Own decision on the merits b) Remittal for a further decision by the department of first instance Costs Petition for review by the Enlarged Board of Appeal a) Principles b) Admissibility c) Overview of the course of the proceedings d) Decision Intervening in opposition appeal proceedings Miscellaneous procedural issues a) Procedural principles b) Right to be heard c) Time limits and the consequences of the failure to observe them d) Lateness e) Withdrawal of the appeal f) Withdrawal of the opposition in opposition appeal proceedings Change in the person of the opponent II. National procedure Purpose, character and subject matter of the proceedings Overview of the procedure Effects of the lodging of an appeal Admissibility a) Appealable decisions permissibility b) Locus standi c) Notice of appeal d) Time limit for submitting the statement of grounds for appeal e) Examination of admissibility Factual examination of the appeal a) Scope b) Examination of grounds of appeal in multilateral proceedings Amendment of the patent application or specification a) Principles b) Special features of multilateral proceedings Oral proceedings a) Principles b) Preparation of the oral hearing c) Holding oral hearings Ruling a) Independent ruling b) Remittal Costs Appeal on points of law a) Principles b) Differences compared to the appeal procedure Intervention in appeal proceedings XXXV

25 12. Various procedural questions a) Procedural principles b) Right to be heard c) Time limits and consequences of non-observance d) Lateness e) Withdrawal of the appeal f) Withdrawal of the opposition in appeal proceedings Change in identity of the opponent D. Nullity proceedings I. Purpose, character and subject-matter of the proceedings II. Delimitation to opposition proceedings III. Grounds for nullity IV. Overview of the proceedings First instance Second instance V. Procedure in the first instance Filing of a complaint a) Claimant b) Defendant c) Representative d) Value of the subject matter e) Prerequisites of admissibility f) Fee g) Security Service of the writ and invitation to contest a) Service b) No contesting c) Cost in case that no contesting reply is submitted Statement of defence Examination of admissibility Examination as to substance a) Subject-matter of the examination (review) as to substance b) Amendment of the patent Qualified interim report Oral hearing a) Principles b) Preparation c) Procedure in the oral hearing Decision VI. Appeal against the judgements In general Admissibility Representation Notice of appeal a) Time limit b) Requirements as to content and form Statement of grounds for appeal a) Time limit b) Content Fee Procedure Oral hearing Basis of decision and decision VII. Withdrawal of the action and settlement E. Limitation and revocation proceedings I. Purpose and nature II. Delimitation to other procedures III. Effect XXXVI

26 IV. Procedure pursuant to the EPC Formal requirements a) Request b) Fee Examination as to substance Decision and conclusion of the proceedings a) Decision in revocation proceedings b) Decision in limitation proceedings V. National procedure Formal requirements a) Request b) Fee Requirements as to substance Decision F. Lapse without retroactive effect I. Failure to designate the inventor II. Surrender III. Failure to pay annual fees or surcharge IV. Expiry Interpretation and scope of protection of patents A. Basic outline I. The definition of interpretation II. General remarks on determining the scope of protection The meaning of the scope of protection in patent law The patent specification and its interpretation as the basis for determining the scope of protection Balancing interests between the reward function and legal certainty III. Legal sources Legal sources for European patents a) Art. 69 EPC b) Protocol on the Interpretation of Article 69 EPC Legal sources for German patents IV. Objective criterion for interpretation The understanding of the person of average skill in the art a) Level of education and practical professional experience b) Average knowledge and skill Relevant time Criterion substantively unchanged over time Distinction between interpretation and subsumption of the attacked embodiment under the scope of protection V. Interpretation as a question of law/findings as to facts VI. Functionally orientated interpretation B. The importance of the patent specification as a source for interpretation I. The authentic version of the patent specification Authentic nature of the version in the language of the proceedings in the case of European patents Consideration of later amendments II. The patent specification as its own dictionary III. Authoritative role of the claims Categories of claims The claim as the sum of its features a) Unity of the claim b) The feature analysis as an aid c) Importance of all technical features d) Peculiarities of statements of purpose, effect and function e) Peculiarities of numerical and dimensional statements XXXVII

27 f) Peculiarities of product-by-process wording g) Explanatory reference numerals in the claim The systematic structure of the respective claims a) Relationship with independent claims b) Relationship with dependent claims IV. Comprehending the literal wording taking the description and drawings into account Relationship between the description and the claims Classic structure of the description The technical background and state of the art mentioned in the patent a) The range of relevant documents for interpretation purposes b) Influence of the relevant documents on the interpretation The object, or the technical problem The general description of the idea behind the solution and its advantages The description of worked embodiments Illustration by means of drawings The abstract C. The importance of sources outside the patent specification I. Common general knowledge Definition of common general knowledge The influence of common general knowledge on the substance of the interpretation II. State of the art not mentioned in the patent specification and not forming part of the common general knowledge III. Grant history IV. Reasons for decisions in proceedings attacking validity Prevailing teaching Comment D. Extension of the scope of protection to equivalents I. Principles II. Prerequisites for protection The alternative means The identical effect Perceptibility a) Relevant knowledge and skill b) Point in time for perceptibility c) Special constellations Equivalent in value a) Outline b) Technical value judgments in the patent c) Special constellations III. Formstein defence Outline Examination criteria Scope IV. Procedural issues Obligation to present arguments and burden of proof Subject matter of the dispute Motion Chemical and biological inventions A. Introduction and development I. Chemical inventions General Historical development and current status a) Patentgesetz of 1877 PatG (German Patent Act 1877) XXXVIII

28 b) Restatement c) Abolition of the Substance Protection Prohibition II. Biological inventions B. Definitions, exceptions and special cases regarding biological inventions I. Definitions regarding chemical and biological inventions II. Exceptions and special cases regarding biological inventions Inventions regarding the Human Body Inventions regarding micro-organisms Inventions regarding animals Inventions regarding plants C. Prerequisites for patent registration I. General II. Novelty and inventive step Novelty of substances a) Novelty of the first medical indication b) Novelty of the second medical indication b) Interim products d) Polymorphic forms e) Enantiomers f) Markush formula g) Selection inventions h) Natural Substances i) DNA sequences Novelty of processes Novelty of non-medical applications III. Capability of industrial application IV. Specific problems of feasibility V. Particular problems in case of stem cells D. Scope of protection and types of claims I. Introduction II. Absolute substance protection range and wording of the unrestricted substance claim General and scope of the substance claim Most recent criticism of absolute substance protection Drafting the claim The product-by-process claim III. Limited substance claim range and wording of the claim General Purpose-bound substance protection First medical indication Second medical indication Case studies on substance inventions and first and second medical indication Function-bound substance protection Indirect substance protection IV. Process and utility claim scope and wording of the claim Process claims Utility claims E. Effects of the patent I. Overview of 9 a to 9 c PatG II. Biological material, 9 a PatG General Product patents, 9 a para. 1 PatG a) Propagation and multiplication b) with identical properties c) Scope of Protection The process patent, 9 a para. 2 PatG Genetic information, 9 a para. 3 PatG XXXIX

29 III. The reproduction of biological material, 9 b PatG General Exhaustion a) General b) Prerequisites c) Restriction of 9 b sentence 2 PatG d) Legal consequence IV. Use for agricultural purposes, 9 c PatG General Farmers privilege for crops, 9 c para. 1 PatG a) Variety constituents b) Farmer c) For the purpose of agricultural cultivation d) His/her crops and farming operation e) Use by the farmer f) Legal consequence: Limitation of 9, 9 a and 9 b sentence 2 PatG g) Information and compensation claim Farm animals or animal reproductive material, 9 c Abs. 2 PatG a) Farm animals b. Animal reproductive material c. Placing on the market d. Use for agricultural purposes e) Legal consequence Accidental reproduction, 9 c para. 3 PatG a) Agriculture b) Accidental reproduction c) Burden of proof d) Legal consequence Use of a patent A. General B. Direct use of a patent I. General principles Patents as monopoly rights and positive rights of use Rights of use when patents collide a) Positive right of use b) Collision of patents with different priorities c) Collision of patents with the same priority Analysis of features and comparison of features Objective criterion for determining the use of a patent Improved embodiments and embodiments of poorer quality a) Sub-combination b) Dependent inventions Implementation of plural use actions side-by-side or in succession II. Individual elements of use Product patents a) Comprehensive exploitation rights in principle b) Combining, mixing, further processing c) Manufacturing d) Offering e) Placing in circulation f) Using g) Importing and possessing Process patents a) Preliminary remarks b) Carrying out a patented process as a use of the patent c) Offering a patented process to be carried out as a form of using a patent XL