The Eu Patent Package Handbook

A new patent right for Europe (the European Patent with Unitary Effect) and a new European enforcement and invalidation regime (the Unified Patent Court) are expected to come into operation soon, potentially as early as 2015. Existing patents granted by the European Patent Office (EPO), as well as those granted in the future, will automatically come under the jurisdiction of the new Court, unless opt-out rights are exercised. These measures represent one of the most complex and ambitious legal reforms in the field of European intellectual property since the creation of the EPO in 1977. For applicants and proprietors used to the current European system of national patents and national courts, the new system will present both opportunities and challenges in developing, maintaining and leveraging a cost-effective patent portfolio. For manufacturers, distributors and end-users, the new system will subject their activities to the jurisdiction of a new court, with unique and possibly unfamiliar powers and procedures. Decisions must therefore be made as to how best to take advantage of the possibilities afforded by the new system. Applicants and proprietors are already asking themselves questions such as: Should I start to register European patents as European Patents with Unitary Effect when they become available, or should I continue with national validation? For which European patents and applications should I make use of the opt-out to keep litigation in the national courts? Should I consider reverting to national filings instead of using the EPO? How will the new Unified Patent Court be structured, and how will it work? What choices will I have in future as to where to litigate – should I choose a national court or the UPC to enforce or invalidate a European patent? This Handbook provides both guidance for the strategic decisions which will have to be taken and a detailed reference manual to the law and practice of the new system.

A new patent right for Europe (the European Patent with Unitary Effect) and a new European enforcement and invalidation regime (the Unified Patent Court) are expected to come into operation soon, potentially as early as 2015. Existing patents granted by the European Patent Office (EPO), as well as those granted in the future, will automatically come under the jurisdiction of the new Court, unless opt-out rights are exercised. These measures represent one of the most complex and ambitious legal reforms in the field of European intellectual property since the creation of the EPO in 1977. For applicants and proprietors used to the current European system of national patents and national courts, the new system will present both opportunities and challenges in developing, maintaining and leveraging a cost-effective patent portfolio. For manufacturers, distributors and end-users, the new system will subject their activities to the jurisdiction of a new court, with unique and possibly unfamiliar powers and procedures. Decisions must therefore be made as to how best to take advantage of the possibilities afforded by the new system. Applicants and proprietors are already asking themselves questions such as: Should I start to register European patents as European Patents with Unitary Effect when they become available, or should I continue with national validation? For which European patents and applications should I make use of the opt-out to keep litigation in the national courts? Should I consider reverting to national filings instead of using the EPO? How will the new Unified Patent Court be structured, and how will it work? What choices will I have in future as to where to litigate - should I choose a national court or the UPC to enforce or invalidate a European patent? This Handbook provides both guidance for the strategic decisions which will have to be taken and a detailed reference manual to the law and practice of the new system.

When managed well, IP can become the most enduring form of competitive advantage, creating streams of revenue well into the future. But for many in Europe, IP can still seem complicated to acquire, expensive to maintain and hard to enforce. Drawing on a wide range of expert contributions, The Handbook of European Intellectual Property Management is a practical and easy-to-follow account of how IP comes into play at various stages of ventures and delivers commercial success and real competitive advantage. Drawing out the commercial implications of the changes that are happening within Europe's framework for innovation, like the arrival of the unitary patent, this Handbook reviews how EU programmes such as Horizon 2020, the Innovation Union and the European Research Area are measuring performance against a target of creating more growth from IP ventures. In parallel, the contributors discuss the new terms on which leading players in business and research are looking to engage partners in sourcing ideas and fast-tracking innovation. Everywhere IP policies are being re-written to encourage open innovation and to source knowledge from wherever it may best be found. For those looking to take an innovation, a design, or a brand into the market, this handbook discusses the options in putting the right idea into the right format, highlighting challenges such as: - how to design an IP strategy - how to capture and secure IP - how to capitalise on new technologies - how to combine different types of IP - whether to adopt a national, European or global focus - how to engage in partnerships and competitions - how to source ideas from the research base - how to retain exclusivity within open innovation - which model to adopt in reaching the market - how to negotiate IP within contracts - how put a value on IP - how to raise funds with IP - how to resolve disputes

When managed well, intellectual property (IP) puts enterprises in a position to lock in an advantage and command a premium. But in Europe, the process of commercializing IP remains fraugt with difficulties, with significant differences existing in the application and interpretation of these rights in each national jurisdiction. Drawing on a wide range of expertise - including editorial support and input from the European Patent Office - The Handbook of European Intellectual Property Management is a practical and easy-to-follow guide that reveals exactly how IP can contribute to improved competitive performance and to greater value on the balance sheet, whilst also offering a template for 'best practice' in IP management.

This significantly updated second edition of the Research Handbook on Patent Law provides comprehensive coverage of new research for patent protection in three major jurisdictions: the United States, Europe and Japan.

This new edition is a comprehensive and practical guide to European patent law – a 'ius commune'. The book highlights the areas of consistency and difference between the most influential European patent law jurisdictions: the European Patent Office, England and Wales, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. The book also draws insights from further afield, with contributions from other, very active, patent jurisdictions, including Italy, Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland. Uniquely, the book addresses European patent law by subject matter area, assessing the key national and EPO approaches together rather than nation by nation. Each chapter outlines the common ground between the national approaches and provides a guide for the possible application of European patent law in national courts and the UPC in the future. In addition to featuring content on new countries, the second edition includes new chapters dedicated to the substantive aspects of FRAND, declarations, and evidence. There is also an expanded commentary on construction, including common terms used in patent claims. A must-read for anyone working in the field of European patent law.

This book offers an in-depth examination of the European patent law regime. Aimed at practising lawyers it provides a one-stop reference for everything that they need to understand the rapidly developing European law on this subject.

This work first provides a general overview of the U.S. patent system, covering such issues as the patent document and patent infringement. The requirements of the invention and the conditions for patentability are discussed, with a focus on the patent application and the approval process. Major patent offices and international patent treaties are next examined, providing a full description of both the U.S. and international patent and classification systems. Methods for searching patent documents, the requirements of a reference, and general patent rights are discussed.