Introducción a la OEP Enrique Molina Galán Director

Introducción a la OEP Enrique Molina Galán Director Biotecnología EPO La Haya 3/18/2018 Visita a Galicia, Julio 2010

European Patent Organisation Member states: • A European intergovernmental institution, but • not an EU institution • Self-financing, i. e. revenue from fees covers operating and capital expenditure • 37 member states • a market of over 500 M citizens • Single procedure & language Albania • Austria • Belgium • Bulgaria • Croatia • Cyprus • Czech Republic • Denmark • Estonia • Finland • France • Germany • Greece • Hungary • Iceland • Ireland • Italy • Latvia • Liechtenstein • Lithuania • Luxembourg • Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia • Malta • Monaco • Netherlands • Norway • Poland • Portugal • Romania • San Marino • Slovakia • Slovenia • Spain • Sweden • Switzerland • Turkey • United Kingdom Extension agreements: Bosnia-Herzegovina • Montenegro • Serbia

The European Patent Convention § The European Patent Convention (EPC) – provides the legal framework for the granting of European patents via a centralised procedure – establishes the European Patent Organisation § 1973 – Diplomatic Conference in Munich ► signature of the EPC by 16 countries § 1977 – Entry into force of the EPC in 7 countries § Italy since 1. 12. 78 marked as follows

A bit of History § 1973 Diplomatic conference setting up EPC § 1977 EPC enters into force § 1978 EPO starts operating and receives first European applications § 2000 Diplomatic conference performs the first comprehensive overhaul of EPC; EPC 2000 § 2007 EPC 2000 enters into force

Structure of the European Patent Organisation European Patent Office Administrative Council The executive body The legislative body § responsible for examining European patent applications § made up of delegates from the member states § supervises the activities of the Office § has a specific legislative function

Structure Presidential area Benoît Battistelli Directorates-General Operations Operational Support Appeals Administration Legal/International Affairs Thomas Hammer Peter Vermeij Peter Messerli Brian Mc. Ginley Wim van der Eijk (ad interim) Business Services Patent Administration Appeals Human Resources Search Substantive Examination Opposition European and International Affairs Quality Management Information Management General Administration Language Service International Legal Affairs and Patent Law Legal Services European Patent Academy Status: July 2010 Patent Information

Structure of EPO - Cluster Biotech Joint Cluster Biotech - A. Stamatopoulos - 260 examiners V. Kaas - 2401 U. Thiele - 2402 S. Yeats - 2403 B. Isert - 2404 Patent Administration Operational Support M M. Fotaki - 2405 A. Nichogiannopolou - 2406 E. Molina Galan - 1212 F. Fernandez y Branas - 1222 S. Hoekstra - 1223 Patent Administration Operational Support TH

Number of staff and locations Munich 3 718 The Hague 2 710 Berlin 274 Vienna 112 Brussels Total 4 6 818 Around 60% (4000) are patent examiners Headquarters are in Munich

Staff from 31 different countries (2009) Country Number of staff AT Austria 237 IS Iceland BE Belgium 359 IT Italy BG Bulgaria 35 LT Lithuania CH Switzerland 74 LU Luxembourg CY Cyprus 8 LV Latvia 5 CZ Czech Republic 20 MT Malta 2 DE Germany 1 851 NL Netherlands DK Denmark 75 PL Poland 62 EE Estonia 7 PT Portugal 87 ES Spain 447 RO Romania 115 FI Finland 49 SE Sweden 125 FR France 1 225 SI Slovenia 14 GB United Kingdom 507 SK Slovakia 15 GR Greece 165 TR Turkey 29 HR Croatia 2 Others 2 HU Hungary 29 IE Ireland 82 Total 1 507 4 69 609 6 818

Locations Munich 3 buildings The Hague 4 buildings Headquarters Vienna The European Patent Office Berlin Locations Brussels Bureau

The logo of the European Patent Office “The fingerprint is the universally recognised hallmark of individuality and identification. Its adoption here in stylised form achieves the qualities necessary to the role of the EPO. ” (Kilkenny Design Workshops, Ireland)

§Some figures

Applications filed Direct European filings Euro-PCT applications entering the regional phase

Applications by residence of applicant (2009)

Technical fields with the most filings (2009) 58 953 Number of applications

European patents granted

Oppositions in 2009 Oppositions were filed against 4. 7% of granted European patents. Over one third of all opposed patents were revoked. Opposition rejected Patent revoked 26. 3% 4. 7% 43. 6% Oppositions 30. 1% Granted patents Patent maintained in amended form

JC Biotechnology: capacity and workload § 260 examiners (1/3 TH, 2/3 MU) § Incoming searches: 9000/year § Request for examination: 6000/year § Oppositions filed: 170/year

Cost of a sample European patent 1) EPO fees EUR Percentage of total 4 600 14% Professional representation before the EUR 10 000 32% EPO Percentage of total Translation/publication in the contracting states EUR 7 000 22% Percentage of total National renewal fees EUR 10 000 Percentage of total 32% Total cost EUR 31 600 1) Six states, ten-year term The European patent Cost

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