The synergy ECEPO Cooperation policy at the EPO

1
The synergy EC-EPOCo-operation policy at the EPO

• D. Closa - S. Mennerun

June 2009
2

• Short introduction on the EPO

3
Our mission

• As the patent office for Europe,
• we support innovation, competitiveness
• and economic growth across Europe
• through a commitment to high quality
• and efficient services delivered under
• the European Patent Convention.

4
The European Patent Convention

• The European Patent Convention (EPC)
• provides the legal framework for the granting of
  European patents via a centralised procedure
• establishes the European Patent Organisation
• 1973 Diplomatic Conference in Munich ?
  signature of the EPC by 16 countries
• 1977 Entry into force of the EPC in 7 countries
  - marked here below as follows

5
Structure of the European Patent Organisation
6
Autonomy

• Second largest intergovernmental institution in
  Europe
• Not an EU institution
• Self-financing, i.e. revenuefrom fees covers
  operatingand capital expenditure

7
Key figures (Dec. 2007)
Staff 6499 staff members - 3682 patent examiners
- four locations Munich (HQ), the Hague,
Vienna, Berlin and Brussels. Production
figures 184 454 patent applications 168 176
searches carried out 97 594 final actions 54
699 patents published
8

• Geography...
• EU member states, candidate / potential candidate
  countries
• EPO member states, future member states
• EU, EPO neighbours

9
The EPC and the Acquis Communautaire

• Harmonisation with the acquis harmonisation with
  the EPC
• EU members states are also EPO member states
• EU candidate / potential candidate countries are
  (future) EPO member states

10
35 member states

• Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus
  Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland
  France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland
  Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein
  Lithuania Luxembourg Former Yugoslav
  Republic of Macedonia Malta Monaco
  Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal
  Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden
  Switzerland Turkey United Kingdom

European patent applications and patents can also
be extended at the applicant's request to the
following states Albania Bosnia-Herzegovina
Serbia Status January 2009
11
EPO international co-operation policy

• June 2008 revised policy adopted by the
  Administrative Council of the EPO, with
  "cascading" prioritisation criteria
• The EPO as a partner supporting the policies of
• its Member States
• the European Union
• Geographical prioritisation of co-operation
• Trilateral partners - " IP5" / OECD countries
• Future member states and European Neighbourhood
• "BRIC" countries
• Other countries
• Technical prioritisation criteria.

12

• A strong synergy EC / EPO

13
EC / EPO synergy for EU Enlargement

• Harmonisation with the acquis / ratification of
  the EPC
• Transitional phase extension of EP patents and
  EP applications
• Extensive EU funded technical assistance to
  support strengthening of the IPRs protection and
  enforcement
• Significant involvement of the EPO in the
  implementation of EU funded technical
  assistance(gt15 Million Euros)
• Certain level of co-ordination EC / EPO for
  programming, independently of the implementation
  scheme
• regional long term co-operation DG ELARG / EPO
• invitation of the EPO to DG ELARG / DG RELEX
  co-ordination meeting in Belgrade (2007)
• strengthening of working relations with
  delegations

14
A model for the EU Neighbourhood ?

• Harmonisation with the acquis including the EPC /
  ratification of the EPC
• Validation on demand or extension of EP patents
  and EP applications
• EU funded technical assistance to support
  strengthening of the IPRs protection and
  enforcement
• IPR systematically mentioned as a priority area
  in the ENP sectoral policy papers and when
  appropriate in the national action plans
• Co-ordination EC / EPO
• EPO policy support to IP offices in the
  neighbouring countries in the definition of their
  technical assistance needs along the lines of the
  priorities defined by the EC
• Support in relations with EC delegations
• EPO together with IP Offices of its member states
  as the provider of technical assistance in the
  field of IP (EU funded and bilateral assistance)
• Bilateral activities aiming at ensuring the basic
  functioning of a "patent" office

15
EPO and Israel a young co-operation

• Individual contacts
• Official contacts since October 2008
• Installation of EPO search engine EPOQUE
• Data exchange programme IL data to be included
  into the master EPO database DOCDB (EPOQUE,
  esp_at_cenet, etc...)
• Common seminar on CII
• Foreseen exchange on view on quality and
  examiners training.

16

• Thank you for your attention
• dclosa_at_epo.org