Tag Archives: EPO

Can Relevant Prior Art Be “Hidden” Behind the Closest Prior Art?

Under EPC patent law, can more relevant — in particular, technically closer — prior art be “hidden” by instead relying on a different document with a similar purpose as the closest prior art (CPA)? The question is sharpened by the … Continue reading

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The Quiet Cost Creep: How the EPO Has Multiplied Its Fees, Step by Step, in Recent Years

When the European Patent Office (EPO) announces a fee increase, the headline number is usually reassuring: “an average of 4%”, “around 5%”. These percentages are technically correct — and still misleading. They describe the mean across a fee schedule with … Continue reading

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When the Description Reads Along: G 1/24, AI-Assisted Drafting, and the Firm’s New Liability Risk

For decades, the description was the quiet part of a patent application. The music played in the claims; the description supplied background, embodiments, and fallback positions. As long as the claims were clear on their own, the exact wording of … Continue reading

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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

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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

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Andorra: New Patent Law and Possible Validation Agreement With EPO

Andorra is currently negotiating an agreement with the European Patent Office (EPO) for the validation of European patents in this country, as well as to become a member state of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). Both agreements may enter into … Continue reading

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