Many patent applications and patents are lost before the EPO, either before Opposition Divisions or before Appeal due to incorrect original drafting, and added subject matter is a recurrent problem. Learn advanced drafting techniques for successful EPO patent applications.
Many patent applications and patents are lost before the EPO Boards of Appeal due to incorrect original drafting. Added subject matter is a recurrent problem: Amendments made during grant procedure, to take account or new prior art, amount to added subject-matter, often fatal in opposition procedure before the EPO, and national courts.
Sufficiency of disclosure can also be a problem, as if initial disclosure is insufficient, amending it can amount to adding subject-matter.
The purpose of the seminar is to identify the problems of added subject-matter and sufficiency of disclosure, and show how they can be easily avoided by careful drafting.
Please note we are also running:
This meeting runs back-to-back with Effective Defence of EPO Patent Applications on 14 June 2018 and there is a £100/€140 discount off Effective Defence of EPO Patents when booked together with this programme.
To find out more call Customer Services on +44 (0)20 7749 4730 or e-mail info@management-forum.co.uk
Those already familiar with the field will find the seminars valuable
How to identify and deal effectively with added subject matter at the EPO - Article 123(2)
Documents of reference for the application of Art 123(2)
Decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal
Tools available in order to assess added subject-matter
Main criterion directly and unambiguously derivable
Examples of amendments not allowable under Art 123(2)
Examples of amendments allowable under Art 123(2)
** Necessity to indicate amendments and their basis
How to identify and deal effectively with added subject matter at the EPO - Article 123(2) continued
Added subject-matter and clarity
Other not allowable cases of adding subject-matter
Broadening of features or intermediate generalisation
Revision of the stated technical problem
Prior art disclosed in the application/patent
Divisional applications
Correction of errors
Added subject-matter and extension of protection
** Disclosed and undisclosed disclaimers
Practical workshop: Exercises to exemplify the concepts learnt
The importance of sufficiency of disclosure - Article 83
Enabling disclosure
Objections concerning essential features
The interplay between Art 83, Art 84 and Art 56
Sufficiency when overcoming a prejudice
Fundamental and partial insufficiency
Sufficiency and Rule 56
Consequences of a lack of sufficiency at search stage
Sufficiency vs. Clarity
** Substantiation of lack of sufficiency in opposition
The importance of sufficiency of disclosure - Article 83 continued
Sufficiency vs. added subject-matter
Disclaimers and sufficiency
** 'Reach-through' claims
Practical workshop: Exercises to exemplify the concepts learnt
Latest case law and its implications for your EPO patent applications
General case law on sufficiency
Case law on sufficiency in biotechnology
Daniel Thomas
Daniel X. Thomas is an electronics engineer by training. He started his career in the patent field as search examiner at the former Institut International des Brevets in The Hague in 1971. After incorporation of the IIB into the EPO in 1978, he was search examiner in the EPO’s DG1. He joined the EPO’s DG2 in 1979 as substantive examiner in the field of computers and memories. He became a Director in DG2 in 1989, and subsequently headed directorates in various fields of electronics, physics and mechanics.
Although he retired from active service at the EPO on 1 January 2013, Daniel continues to be active in the field of training patent specialists. He still regularly gives lectures at different universities over Europe, including CEIPI in Strasbourg, and also leads workshops/seminars relating to various aspects of the European granting procedure for the epi and the Academy of the EPO, including preparation of candidates for the European Qualification Examination, and also ‘grandfathers’ for new Contracting States.
This course qualifies for the following CPD programmes:
| 14 Nov 2018 | |||
| 14 Nov 2018 | Rembrandt Hotel, London | GBP 699.00 EUR 979.00 USD 1,090.00 + VAT @ 20.00% |
Enrol now |
| 12 Jun 2019 | |||
| 12 Jun 2019 | Venue not yet confirmed | + VAT @ 20.00% |
Enrol now |
“Speaker was perfect and the content of his presentation as well the way of its presenting was excellent ”
Agneszka Zebrowska-Kucharzyk, European and Polish Patent Attorney, PATPOL