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EPO (European Patent Office) Oppositions and Appeals - the Case Law and Workshop
Drawing on case law and the experience of the faculty, this seminar considers the present workings of the opposition and appeal procedures at the European Patent Office. It provides an in-depth summary of both background and recent developments at the EPO and explains how these will impact on your day-to-day practice. It will give you the knowledge and skills to navigate this highly technical area.
Customised in-house training course
The content, presenters and format of this course are customised to your requirements.
Details
Course overview
Drawing on case law and the experience of the expert speakers, this seminar considers the present complex workings of the opposition and appeal procedures at the European Patent Office (EPO). It provides an in-depth summary of both background and recent developments at the EPO, including the new Rules of Procedure that entered into force on 1 January 2020, and explains how these will impact on your day-to-day practice. It will give you the knowledge and skills to navigate this highly technical area and adapt to the recent changes.
The second day of the seminar will be an opposition workshop, culminating in mock oral proceedings in which attendees can participate to gain practical experience in a safe environment. This session will also offer vital tips and feedback on written and oral presentation before the Opposition Division and Boards of Appeal.
You will also have ample opportunity to discuss your particular questions with our expert trainers who will be able to give you insights from both a patent lawyer’s and the EPO’s perspective.
Key topics to be covered:- Introduction to oppositions
- Filing and admissibility of oppositions
- Substantive examination of oppositions
- Evidence
- Introduction to appeals
- Filing, admissibility and examination of appeals
- Petitions for review
- Oppositions and appeal case law
- Revised Rules of Procedure of the Boards of Appeal – January 2020
- Oral proceedings including a mock hearing
Who should attend
- Patent attorneys in private practice
- In-house patent attorneys and lawyers
- Trainee patent attorneys
- IP managers and advisers
- Patent managers and specialists
- All those working or training in intellectual property
Those already familiar with the field will also find this seminar valuable for updating their knowledge.
Programme
Introduction to oppositions
- Parties
- Representation
- Languages
- Composition of opposition divisions
Filing and admissibility of oppositions
- Time limits
- Notices of opposition
- Admissibility
- Sufficient/insufficient substantiation
- Transfer of oppositions
Substantive examination of oppositions
- Extent and grounds of opposition
- Late submissions
- Communications and amendments
- Effect of withdrawal of oppositions
Evidence
- Admissible evidence
- Written and oral evidence
- Evaluation of evidence
- Standard of proof
- Burden of proof
Oral proceedings
- Requests for and summons to oral proceedings
- Procedure
Introduction to appeals
- The Boards of Appeal and Enlarged Board
- Nature of appeals
- Parties to appeals,
- The rule against reformation in peius
Filing, admissibility and examination of appeals
- Time limits
- Written submissions
- New grounds of opposition
Petitions for review
- Grounds for petitions to the Enlarged Board for review of appeal decisions
- Emerging case law
- Review procedure
Oppositions and appeal case law summary
- Added matter
- Insufficiency
- Inventive step
- Novelty
Revised Rules of Procedure of the Boards of Appeal of the EPO
- Aims of the revision
- Case management measures
- Transitional provisions
- Key concepts for amendments to a
party’s case – ‘convergent approach’
Mock oral proceedings
- Introduction
- Requests
- Novelty
- Added matter
- Admissibility
- Inventive step
- Auxiliary request
Mock oral proceedings conclusion
- Decision
- Feedback
Presenters
Leythem Wall (More...)
Leythem Wall is a European and UK patent attorney and litigator specialising in the chemical, consumer products, energy, material, mechanical, medical and pharmaceutical sectors. Prior to founding Oxon IP, he was a Partner in major European and US Intellectual Property law firms, and before then in-house patent counsel for ExxonMobil and AkzoNobel. He has extensive experience in patent drafting, prosecution and particularly oppositions before the European Patent Office. Having worked in private practice and industry for European and US companies, he has significant knowledge of the US patent system, and how this compares with Europe.
Graham Ashley (More...)
Graham was formerly chairman of an EPO board of appeal in mechanics, chairing over 500 cases in a wide range of general technology, such as the building/construction industry, oil exploration, weapons, metal processing, furniture and sanitary equipment (somebody has to do the toilets).
His background is metallurgy and has a PhD in electrochemistry from Cambridge. In 1996 he was called to the Bar (Lincoln’s Inn), but moved straight away to the EPO in Munich to work as a patent examiner.
He was a member of the committee for the European Qualifying Examination (C – Paper: Opposition), and was responsible for drafting one of the exam papers.
He gives talks and presentations on EPO case law and procedures, most recently on inventive step, clarity and the work of the boards of appeal. He was also involved with the training of new members of the boards of appeal. He advises on presenting cases at oral proceedings before the EPO, in particular he is involved in CIPA and EPI workshops on training patent attorneys, and contributes to mock hearings concerning individual cases.
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Customise & book
This course can be customised to meet your requirements, and delivered to your colleagues at your location or online. For more information, call us on +44 (0)20 7749 4730, email us at inhouse@management-forum.co.uk or contact us below:
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