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Have your say on the EPO Guidelines. Now.

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The Guidelines for Examination in the EPO («EPC Guidelines») and the Guidelines for Search and Examination at the EPO as PCT Authority («PCT-EPO Guidelines») give instructions on the practice and procedure to be followed in the various aspects of proceedings at the EPO.

Note that «[a]s a general rule, parties may expect the EPO to act in accordance with the Guidelines […]» at least to the extent first instance proceedings are concerned; see General Remarks (fifth paragraph). Accordingly, one should not blame an individual examiner for any wrongdoing as long as he/she is acting in conformance with the Guidelines. Rather, the Guidelines should be amended accordingly.

But … how would you have your say on the Guidelines?!

Here is the deal

The EPO has launched a public consultation on its Guidelines and invites all interested parties to participate. Comments can be submitted via an online form in any of the three official languages of the EPO. The consultation runs until 15 April 2020.

vespa.swiss

VESPA, the Swiss association of Swiss and European patent attorneys in private practice, is planning a submission on behalf of its membership.

Towards this end, VESPA would greatly appreciate if you send your comments on the EPO Guidelines by 31 March 2020 by e-mail to [email protected].

Please use the following forms which are based on the layout of the EPO’s input mask:

Let’s join forces in order to improve the Guidelines. Now.

Reported by Martin WILMING

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The annual must-attend event on case-law of the FPC on Thursday, 12 March 2020

UPDATE 11 March 2020:

Struck by the bug: The event has been canceled due to COVID-19.

vespa.swiss

Don’t miss VESPA‘s annual evening seminar about recent case law of the FPC on Thursday, March 12 in Zurich; see the program below.

Gain first-hand insight from Tobias BREMI (second ordinary judge at the FPC) in the Haus zum Rüden, Limmatquai 42, 8001 Zurich; see map.

The event is free of charge for VESPA members; the fee for non-members is CHF 90,–. An apéro riche afterwards is offered for CHF 60,–.

Space is limited; please use the registration form below or save your spot online.

Reported by Martin WILMING

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PROGRAM

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The annual must-attend event on case-law of the FPC on March 28, 2019

vespa.swiss

Don’t miss VESPA‘s annual evening seminar about recent case law of the FPC on Thursday, March 28 in Zurich; see the program below.

Gain first-hand insight from Tobias BREMI (second ordinary judge at the FPC) in the Haus zum Rüden, Limmatquai 42, 8001 Zurich; see map.

The event is free of charge for VESPA members; the fee for non-members is CHF 90,–. An apéro riche afterwards is offered for CHF 60,–.

Space will be limited; please use the registration form below or save your spot online.

Reported by Martin WILMING

Header image by Roland zh (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons.

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VESPA launches ‘epi Roundtable’ – sign-up now for August 28 to save your spot!

German version below.

All European patent attorneys are members of the Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office (epi). epi represents the interests of its members in relation to the EPO. In this respect, the European Patent Practice Committee (EPPC) with its various technology groups and working groups is an important body that deals with issues that arise in daily practice.

A large number of epi committees is staffed with Swiss members. The lively exchange between the members of the Association of Swiss and European patent attorneys in private practice (VESPA) and the delegates is essential. Therefore, VESPA launches the ‘epi Roundtable’, to establish a platform for VESPA members to get first-hand information about current projects and changes at the EPO. On the other hand, it also is a chance to point the delegates to issues that should be dealt with in the EPPC or other epi committees, and to discuss questions they might have relating to epi and the EPO.

Date: August 28, 2018
Time: 5:15 – 7:15 pm
Apéro riche therafter
Place: Au Premier
Zurich Main Station (Google maps)
Costs: free of charge for VESPA members
Sign up: Online form
PDF form

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Alle europäisch zugelassenen Patentanwälte sind Mitglied des Instituts der beim Europäischen Patentamt zugelassenen Vertreter (epi). Dieser Verband nimmt die Interessen seiner Mitglieder in der Zusammenarbeit mit dem EPA wahr. Ein für Fragen der täglichen Praxis wichtiges Gremium ist das European Patent Practice Committee (EPPC) mit seinen diversen Technologie- und Arbeitsgruppen.

Die Schweiz stellt Delegierte in sehr vielen epi-Ausschüssen. Wesentlich ist der lebendige Austausch zwischen den Mitgliedern des Verbands der freiberuflichen Europäischen und Schweizer Patentanwälte (VESPA) und den Delegierten. Dafür ruft der VESPA den ‘epi Roundtable’ ins Leben. Er soll eine Plattform sein, über welche sich die VESPA-Mitglieder einerseits aus erster Hand über aktuelle Projekte und Änderungen beim EPA informieren können. Andererseits bietet er auch die Möglichkeit, den Delegierten Anliegen zur Einspeisung und Vertretung im EPPC oder in anderen epi-Gremien zu unterbreiten und Fragen zu aktuellen Themen im Zusammenhang mit dem epi oder dem EPA zu stellen.

Datum: 28. August 2018
Zeit: 17:15 – 19:15 Uhr
anschliessend Apéro riche
Ort: Au Premier
Zürich Hauptbahnhof (Google maps)
Kosten: gratis für VESPA Mitglieder
Anmeldung: Online Formular
PDF Formular

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The annual must-attend event on case-law of the FPC on March 8, 2018

vespa.swiss

Don’t miss VESPA‘s annual evening seminar about recent case law of the FPC on Thursday, March 8 in Zurich.

Gain first-hand insight from Tobias BREMI (second ordinary judge at the FPC) and Christian HILTI as a further panelist. See the program for details.

Please note the new venue, i.e. Haus zum Rüden, Limmatquai 42, 8001 Zurich; see map.

The event is free of charge for VESPA members; the fee for non-members is CHF 90,–. Dinner afterwards is offered for CHF 80,–.

Registration deadline is March 1, 2018; please use the registration form below.

Reported by Martin WILMING

Header image by Roland zh (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons.

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