Franke IP Information (German)- Vom Schachbrett zum Post-Editing: Was die Automatisierungsgeschichte anderer Berufe über die Zukunft anwaltlicher Arbeit verrät
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- Patentschutz in den Niederlanden: Eintragungspatent, PCT-Lücke und eine bevorstehende Reform
- Lässt sich relevanter Stand der Technik hinter dem nächstliegenden Stand der Technik „verstecken“?
- Die stille Teuerung: Wie das EPA seine Gebühren in den letzten Jahren schrittweise vervielfacht hat
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- Kein Eigentum, keine Innovation: Warum sozialistische Patentsysteme Wohlstand verschenken – UdSSR, DDR und Kuba
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Category Archives: German law
Changing the Name of an IP Rights Holder or Applicant
Company names change, individuals marry, corporate structures are reorganised. Whenever the holder or applicant of an IP right is affected, the relevant register should be updated promptly. This article summarises what to bear in mind when recording a name change … Continue reading
Posted in European Law, German law, International Law, Patent Law, Trademark Law
Tagged EPO, EUIPO, GPTO, name change, transfer
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When Youth Protection Meets Artistic Freedom — and Where IP Law Comes In
I. What Happened Uwe Boll’s action thriller “Citizen Vigilante“ (starring Armie Hammer) tells the story of a wealthy businessman who, after a violent crime against his mother, loses faith in the rule of law and turns to vigilante justice. Boll presents the … Continue reading
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
Tagged Act on Employees' Inventions, ArbnErfG, compensation, Invention
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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
Tagged national law, UPC; Unitary Patent; Unitary Patent Court
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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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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
Posted in German law, Patent Law, Start-up Business Consulting
Tagged apud model, Invention, valuation
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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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Failed Trials, Strong Patents: The Federal Court of Justice on Fampridine-SR (BGH X ZR 165/23)
German Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof), judgment of 17 March 2026 – X ZR 165/23 – on appeal from the Federal Patent Court In a decision that commentators are already calling a milestone for pharmaceutical patents, the X. Civil Senate … Continue reading
Posted in German law, Patent Law
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When “Suitability” Isn’t Enough: The Federal Court of Justice on Purpose-Bound Substance Protection (BGH X ZB 3/25)
German Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof), order of 25 February 2026 – X ZB 3/25 – Fructose Intolerance Agent · ECLI:DE:BGH:2026:250226BXZB3.25.0 In a decision handed down on February 25, 2026, the X. Civil Senate (Patent Senate) of Germany’s Federal Court … Continue reading
Posted in German law, Patent Law
Tagged BGH, Federal Patent Court, Fructose Intolerance Agent
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GPTO: Increase of Official Fees on May 1, 2022 and July 1, 2022
The German Patent and Trademark Office (GPTO) will increase on May 1, 2022 and July 1, 2022, respectively, the annuity fees for patents and supplementary protection certificates (SPCs). Annuity fees can be paid one year in advance at the GPTO. … Continue reading
Posted in German law, Patent Law
Tagged Annuity fees, Fee Increase, GPTO, Patents, SPC
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