Revision of the European Patent Convention & (and) Potential Impact on European Patent Practice 36 AIPLA Quarterly Journal 2008

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36 AIPLA Q. J. 419 (2008)
Revision of the European Patent Convention & (and) Potential Impact on European Patent Practice

handle is hein.journals/aiplaqj36 and id is 427 raw text is: AIPLA QUARTERLY JOURNAL
Volume 36, Number 4 Page 419 Fall 2008
REVISION OF THE EUROPEAN PATENT CONVENTION &
POTENTIAL IMPACT ON EUROPEAN PATENT PRACTICE
Dr. Stacey J. Farmer and Dr. Martin Grund*
I. IN TRO DU CTIO N ................................................................................................ 420
II. FUN CTIONS OF THE EPC .................................................................................. 422
III. CHANGES To SUBSTANTIVE EPC PATENT LAW ............................................. 425
A. Patentable Subject Matter Including Exclusions & Exceptions:
A rticles 52 and 53 EPC ...................................................................... 425
B. Novelty & State of the Art: Articles 54(1),(2),(3) EPC .................... 426
C. Claims Reciting a Medical Indication: Articles 54(4)-(5) EPC
2 0 0 0 .................................................................................................... 4 3 0
D. Interpretation of Patent Claims: Article 69 EPC .............................. 432
E. Priority: A rticles 87-89 EPC .............................................................. 434
F. Attorney-Client Privilege: Article 134a(1)(d) EPC 2000 .................. 435
IV. CHANGES To PROCEDURAL EPC PATENT LAW ............................................. 437
A. Central Limitation Procedure: Articles 105a, b, c EPC 2000 ............ 437
B. Revocation in National Proceedings: Article 138(3) EPC 2000 ........ 440
C. Review by the Enlarged Board of Appeal: Article 112a EPC 2000 ....441
D. Acquiring a European Filing Date: Articles 80 & 91 EPC ............... 443
E. Unity of Invention and Euro PCT Applications: Rule 164 EPC
2 0 0 0 .................................................................................................... 4 4 5
F. Information on Prior Art: Article 124 EPC 2000 .............................. 446
G. Further Processing: Article 121 EPC ................................................. 447
H. Re-Establishment of Rights: Article 122 EPC ................................... 449
I. The London Agreement-Easing the Translation Requirements
U nder A rticle 65 EPC ........................................................................ 450
V . C O N CLU SIO N ................................................................................................... 453
* © 2008 Stacey J. Farmer and Martin Grund. Dr. Farmer graduated with a Ph.D. from the
Johns Hopkins University in 1997 and with a J.D. from Santa Clara University School of
Law in 2000. Dr. Farmer is a UK Solicitor, England and Wales and a U.S. Patent Attorney.
Dr. Grund is a European Patent Attorney and German Patent & Trademark Attorney, who
received a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Bielefeld (Germany) in 1994.
Both practice at Grund Intellectual Property Group, a boutique intellectual property firm
located in Munich, Germany. The authors would like to acknowledge and thank Dr.
Martin Burda for his excellent editorial assistance and support.