Franke IP Information (German)- Patentschutz in Irland: Das Kurzzeitpatent, die Neuheitsnachweis-Falle und eine Hintertür für PCT-Anmeldungen
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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
Category Archives: Patent Law
Who Survives AI? Partners, Associates and Freelance Patent Attorneys in a Shifting Firm Structure
The debate about Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the patent profession usually focuses on the firm as a whole: falling drafting fees, consolidation pressure, and competition that hands the efficiency gains to clients. In our post “When the Patent Office Becomes … Continue reading
Posted in Employee, Patent Law, Start-up Business Consulting
Tagged AI, freelancer, partner, patent attorney
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When the Patent Office Costs More Than the Attorney: Two Scenarios for the Future of the IP Industry in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
The Quiet Reversal of the Cost Structure For decades, an unspoken rule of thumb governed the patent world: the office is cheap, the attorney is expensive. Anyone looking to reduce the cost of a patent filing turned the attorney screw … Continue reading
Posted in European Law, International Law, Patent Law
Tagged AI, artificial intelligence, cost reduction, IP business
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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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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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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
Tagged national law, UPC; Unitary Patent; Unitary Patent Court
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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
Tagged france, French patent application, inpi
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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