EQE 2025: Reformed and ready for the future The EPO is transforming the way patent practitioners are trained and tested. With a redesigned format and new content, the modernised European Qualifying Examination gives candidates the chance to demonstrate their legal knowledge and skills to prepare them for the real-world challenges they’ll face.  In this 4-episode podcast series, published from September onwards, you will hear experts discuss the reasons for this reform as well as learn about its benefits for candidates. We’ll go into detail about what this reformed approach looks like and ..read more

Reflections on the first year The new Unitary Patent system has been in operation for a year. Does its uptake rate indicate success or was more expected? When and why does it make sense to register a European patent with unitary effect? What are the benefits, especially for small and medium companies? Hear different perspectives in this candid conversation. Moderator: Jeremy Philpott, EPO Communications manager Guest: Marek Bury, European patent attorney, partner at Bury and Bury in Warsaw ..read more

Almost 8% of patent filings at the EPO in 2023 were for computer technology, which includes the rapidly growing field of artificial intelligence. But which types of AI are growing especially fast and why? What do experts mean when they say that 2024 is the year of the embodiment of AI? And could the next superantibiotic be designed by AI?   Moderator:  Jeremy Philpott, EPO Communications manager    Guests:   Wiebke Hinrichs, EPO patent examiner  André Fonseca dos Santos, EPO patent examiner  EPO's Patent Index 2023 7rex3xip - wgxu7efa ..read more

Is offshore wind energy the key to solving the climate crisis? A recent joint report reveals insightful findings, highlighting challenges and opportunities in this growing sector. Join study authors from the European Patent Office and International Renewable Energy Agency as they discuss this clean energy source.   Full report Guests:  Francisco Boshell, Head Innovation and End Use Applications, IRENA  Jaidev Dhavle, Associate Programme Officer, Innovation for the Energy Transition, IRENA  Johannes Schaaf, EPO patent intelligence expert  Moderator:  Geert Boe ..read more

When dealing with disability, is gene therapy an ethical solution? Can technology encourage a more equitable world? Does society truly listen to people with a disability? In this special edition, we’ll meet several authors seeking answers to these complex questions. We’ll hear their creations before learning about the inspiration behind each tale. "Who am I?" by Brian Routledge, "L’ Expo" by Christophe Poizat and "Mosaïque" by Paule Gilis were the winning entries in EPO’s writing competition on the theme disability and innovation. The contest was open to all staff and formed part of our celebr ..read more

Hear what three of our users have to say about switching to the digital patent granting process with the help of our new generation of online MyEPO services.  Moderated by Richard Garvey, Key Account Manager at the EPO and with the participation of Zhakalazky Carrion, Senior Manager Docketing & Client Records, and Alexis Dagostino, Docketing & Client Records Coordinator both at at Schwegman Lundberg & Woessner; Christophe Ego, Patent Attorney at Winger and Kieran Donnelly, MyEPO Business Change Manager at the EPO. More about MyEPO services ..read more

How are European startups using patents and trade marks to raise finance? The high failure rates of promising startups are often linked to their cashflow problems, so this a topic of critical importance for Europe’s economy. The authors of a recent study discuss their findings with regard to patents, trade marks and startup finance. Guests:           Yann Ménière, Chief Economist, European Patent Office Nathan Wajsman, Chief Economist, EU Intellectual Property Office Moderator:  Jeremy Philpott, manager in Communications, European Pat ..read more

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a disruptive technology coming of age. The EPO’s latest study reveals explosion in global patenting activity in 3D printing and other forms of AM, now being deployed in construction, healthcare and transport. Patent filings for AM inventions are increasing at eight times the rate across all technologies, as AM comes out of its niche as a prototyping tool and enters the mainstream at the centre of manufacturing. Moderator: Jeremy Philpott (Communications manager, EPO) Guests: Ilja Rudyk (Senior Economist, EPO) and Judy Ceulemans (Senior Expert, EPO) Download the s ..read more

Meeting virtually for an after-work chat in the European Patent Bar, judge Dr Matthias Zigann and attorney Grégoire Desrousseaux discuss “Adaptation of the description”. This requirement of the patent grant process at the EPO has provoked a variety of opinions amongst the profession and even before the Boards of Appeal. They discuss the central importance of clarity for patents, especially in litigation, and evaluate the different positions that practitioners hold.  Dr Zigann is Presiding Judge at the Higher Regional Court in Munich, as well as Presiding Judge of the Local Division (Munic ..read more

Patent professionals: how do you steer clear of unclear terminology, ambiguous descriptions or overly complex claims in your applications? Do you have a strategy to deal with objections? How do you draft a quality application? If these questions have left you feeling stressed, relax! Our expert trio is here to help. Join an EPO examiner and two patent attorneys as they guide you through common patenting mistakes in four key areas: quality, pre-filing, application preparation and post-filing.  Moderated by Rob Chapman, EPO examiner, with Sandra Pohlman, European Patent Attorney at df-mp, M ..read more