Franke IP Information (German)- Kann ein ausscheidender Arbeitnehmer auf seine Erfindervergütung verzichten? Was das deutsche Recht wirklich sagt
- Das Patenterteilungsverfahren in Belgien
- WIPANO 2024–2027: So fördert der Bund die Patentanmeldung kleiner und mittlerer Unternehmen
- Einheitspatent und nationales Patent: Gilt das Doppelschutzverbot noch?
- EPA: Micro-Entity-Gebührenermäßigung: Chancen, der Vergleich mit den USA und die Risiken falscher Angaben
- Micro Entity und Gebührenreduzierung: Was gilt beim DPMA – und was beim EPA?
- Moldau tritt dem EPÜ bei
- Das apud-Modell der qualitativen Patentbewertung – und wie Sie damit den Wert Ihres Patentportfolios steigern
- Abstrakte (einfarbige) Farbmarken und ihre Rechtsprechung in Deutschland
- Gescheiterte Studien, starke Patente: Der BGH zu Fampridin-SR (X ZR 165/23)
Monthly Archives: June 2026
G 1/24 in Opposition Proceedings: New Lines of Attack – and How to Defend Against Them
What it is about In decision G 1/24 of 18 June 2025 (“Heated Aerosol”), the Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office (EPO) settled a question that had been disputed for years: patent claims must always be interpreted … Continue reading
Posted in European Law
Tagged EPC, European patent application, European patent office, G1/24, Opposition proceedings
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Can a Departing Employee Sign Away Their Invention Compensation? What German Law Actually Says
When a key employee leaves a company, a familiar request often lands on the legal team’s desk: “Let’s have them sign something confirming they have no further claims to compensation for their inventions.” It sounds tidy. It feels safe. And … Continue reading
Posted in German law, Patent Law
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The Patent Grant Procedure in Belgium
Anyone seeking protection for an invention in Belgium has two routes: a European patent designating Belgium, or a national Belgian patent. The national procedure is remarkably lean by international standards – and differs from the German or European route in … Continue reading
Posted in International Law, Patent Law
Tagged Belgian Patent, OPRI, Prosecution in Belgium
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Unitary Patent and National Patent: Does the Prohibition of Double Protection Still Apply?
With the start of the Unitary Patent system on June 1, 2023, a practical question arises for many applicants: can I hold a national German patent for the same invention alongside a European patent with unitary effect (the “Unitary Patent”) … Continue reading
Posted in European Law, German law, Patent Law
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Micro-Entity Fee Reductions: Opportunities, the Comparison with the US, and the Risks of Incorrect Declarations
Fee reductions for small applicants are tempting – they noticeably lower the cost of the patent procedure. Both the European Patent Office (EPO) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) offer such reductions. What many underestimate is that … Continue reading
Micro Entity Fee Reductions: What the GPTO Offers – and What It Does Not
We are regularly asked whether Germany offers a special fee reduction for small applicants – a “micro-entity discount” of the kind familiar from the United States or the European Patent Office. The short answer is that the German Patent and … Continue reading
Posted in European Law, German law, International Law, Patent Law
Tagged EPO, Micro entity status
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Filing a Patent in France: Formal Requirements, Particularities and Costs
In France, an invention can be protected either by filing a national patent or utility certificate application, or by designating France in a European or international (PCT) patent application. On the basis of a pending PCT application, patent protection in … Continue reading
Posted in International Law, Patent Law
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Moldova Joins the EPC
On June 1, 2026, the Republic of Moldova acceded to the European Patent Convention (EPC) as its 40th contracting state. A single European patent application can now reach 40 states. What changes for applicants For European patent applications with a … Continue reading
The apud Model of Qualitative Patent Valuation – and How to Use Its Factors to Increase the Value of Your Patent Portfolio
Patents often make up a substantial part of a company’s intangible value – yet that value cannot be captured in a single figure. The apud model is a qualitative valuation approach that systematically captures the characteristics that determine a patent’s … Continue reading
Abstract (Single-Colour) Trademarks and Their Case Law in Germany
A single colour can be a trademark – Telekom’s magenta, Langenscheidt’s yellow and the Sparkassen red are well-known examples. At the same time, the abstract, contourless colour mark is one of the hardest marks to obtain and to enforce. This … Continue reading
Posted in German law, Trademark Law
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