Blog posts of all IP law news and insights.
08 October 2018 In these first three months as President of the EPO I focused on understanding how the office functions and the daily challenges faced by staff and management. I’m convinced that by listening to the personal experiences of our staff we can identify how we can improve in the future. A commitment to …
26 July 2018 What a busy few weeks these have been. As well as a string of management meetings and other duties expected of a new President, I’ve had many enjoyable and productive meetings with staff members from across the EPO, on an individual basis. I felt it important to meet staff one-on-one because their …
04 July 2018 Just a few days ago I embarked upon one of the biggest journeys of my professional career. On 1 July, I started my role as President of this organisation. It is an immense honour to follow in the footsteps of some of the great characters who have shaped IP in Europe and …
28 June 2018 After eight years as President, it is finally time for me to say goodbye. Since the blog started in 2011, I’ve published over 200 posts offering my personal insight into the workings of the Office and the European and global patent system. Every few weeks I shared my thoughts with thousands of …
13 June 2018 Just a few days ago in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Paris, we held our annual European Inventor Award. Now in its 13th year, the event has come to be known as one of the foremost prizes for innovation in Europe and beyond. I was delighted to welcome over 300 guests to a VIP reception at …
25 May 2018 In today’s world there is something of a dichotomy emerging in the field of data. We want access to more information, more easily. Yet at the same time, we want to know that personal data held by an organisation is secure. Both of these considerations are high on the EPO’s agenda at …
25 April 2018 Discussing objectives with our users has helped the EPO to make sure that the services we deliver are the services that are actually needed. Major projects such as Early Certainty and the Reform of the Boards of Appeal were both born out of extensive consultation with applicants and their representatives. As we …
The role of user feedback in developing future orientations Read More »
29 March 2018 March has been a highly significant month for international cooperation at the EPO. Once again we’ve seen a new validation agreement enter into force, bringing the number of states in which a European patent can be validated to 44 and covering a market of some 700 million inhabitants. Meanwhile, three of the …
07 March 2018 Earlier today at the Bibliothèque Solvay in Brussels – aptly named after a Belgian inventor – I had the honour of presenting the EPO’s results at our annual press conference. The full report reveals that 2017 was a positive year for innovation and the EPO itself, and I want to draw out …
