Just in case you missed it: VESPA’s next evening seminar is about patenting of medical devices, and in particular certain buzzkills one might come across in this respect:
«Spassbremsen» bei der Patentierung von Medizinprodukten
VESPA
The event will take place on Thursday, 14 April 2022 at the Haus zum Rüden in Zürich (see map). You may also attend online.
And you know what’s best? Participation is free of charge for VESPA members (CHF 90,– for non-members). An apéro riche is offered after the seminar (CHF 60,–).
Ralph Schlosser and Christophe Saam will present the legal and technical aspects of the decisions rendered by the Federal Patent Court in 2021, followed by a discussion.
Participation is free of charge for members of AROPI or ACBSE.
/MW
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PROGRAM
18:15 hrs
Opening connection
18:30 hrs
Welcome / Introduction
18:40 hrs
Presentation of the case-law
19:40 hrs
Discussion
20:00 hrs
Aperitif
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REGISTRATION
Please sign-up for the event by Email to Olivier Sacroug, olivier@sacroug.ch
Don’t miss VESPA‘s evening seminar about recent case law of the FPC on Thursday, 14 October 2021 in Zurich (17:15 hrs CET); see the detailed program below.
Gain first-hand insight from Tobias BREMI (second ordinary judge at the FPC) at Haus zum Rüden, Limmatquai 42, 8001 Zurich; see map. A covid certificate (3G) is required for attending the seminar in person.
But: You may also join the event by videoconference.
The event is free of charge for VESPA member; the fee for non-member is CHF 90,–. An apéro riche afterwards is offered for CHF 60,–.
VESPA’s annual evening seminar about case-law of the FPC had been postponed in March, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It finally takes place today, with a limited number of attendees on premise, and a Zoom live stream in parallel.
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 martin.wilming@hepp.ch.
Please use the following forms which are based on the layout of the EPO’s input mask:
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.
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.
Timing could not have been much better: The latest decision of the Swiss Supreme Court on the DoE has just been handed down earlier this week; see this Blog here.
Thus, the stage is perfectly set for the annual VIPS/VESPA autumn seminar 2017 (November 3):
