European Patent Seminar

A European patent seminar "Latest patent practices at EPO - what patent practitioners must know," hosted by Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (Rieti), was held at the conference room of Rieti (Tokyo) on October 31, 2006.

The seminar was supported in collaboration with a German patent firm "Boeters & Lieck" and Kuzuwa & Partners, and focused on the revised EPC coming into force at the end of 2007 (EPC2000) to give commentary on the whole picture, including and comparisons of patent practices at EPO with those in Japan.

The conference room was filled with about 50 participants, such as corporate IP staffs, patent attorneys and patent firm staffs handling foreign cases. The presentations were informative and comprehensible, and the presenters and participants had a lively discussion after the presentations. The program is shown below.

Program

10:00-10:05 Opening address

	10:10-12:00 European Patent Convention 2000 Dr. Hans D. Boeters, European and German Patent Attorney, Senior Partner of Boeters & Lieck (Interpreter: Ms. Satoe Takeda, technical staff, Kuzuwa & Partners) Dr. Boeters, who has been a patent attorney in Germany for more than 30 years, presented major revised topics on EPC 2000, such as minimum requirements at filing, medical patent practice etc.
13:00-13:30 Comparisons and Discussions of Examination and Appeal practices between JPO and EPO Mr. Kiyoshi Kuzuwa, Patent Attorney, Head of Kuzuwa & Partners Mr. Kuzuwa explained the institution and practices of EPC by comparing the latest practices at JPO.
	13:35-15:25 Appeal Proceedings Dr. Dietmar Forstmeyer, European and German Patent Attorney, Partner of Boeters & Lieck (Interpreter: Mr. Yoichi Inoue, Patent Attorney, Kuzuwa & Partners) Dr. Forstmeyer gave a detailed explanation on appeal practices at EPO, which are not familiar to Japanese practitioners.

15:25-15:55 Discussion

15:55-16:00 Closing address