We are proud to announce that Martin Gutwillinger and Henri Kihn have been recognized as notable practitioners by IP STARS (Managing IP)!🌟✨
We are also proud that Office Freylinger continues to be recognized among the top firms in this ranking.
Thank you to our clients, colleagues, and team for your continuous support. Let’s keep striving for excellence together!
#Congratulations #IPStars #Intellectualproperty #Excellence #Patents #Trademarks
On 31 May 2024, the Government of Romania (RO) deposited its instrument of ratification of the UPCA, which will take effect on 1 September 2024.
A Unitary Patent covers the territories of those participating Member States in which the UPCA has taken effect at the date of registration of unitary effect by the EPO. Hence, Unitary Patents registered as of the date of 1 September 2024 will cover the territory of 18 Member States.
The EPO has now announced that it will accept requests for a delay of the registration of unitary effect, in order to allow proprietors to benefit from the enlarged territorial scope covering Romania.
This is a welcome initiative that will make sense for most proprietors.
It is reminded that the request for unitary effect (with translation of the entire patent) must be filed with the EPO no later than one month after publication of the mention of grant of the European patent in the European Patent Bulletin.
Philippe Ocvirk | European patent attorney | UPC Representative
The unitary patent system came into operation on June 1, 2023. After one year, it can be considered a success.
The European Patent Office has smoothly introduced this new title conferring uniform protection in 17 European countries.
To date, 28 179 European patents with unitary effect have been granted. This represents a conversion (uptake) rate of around 20%. In other words, one out of every five European patents granted is converted into a unitary patent, rather than being validated in the member states. (1)
Unitary patents are mainly used by European companies (64%).
On September 1, 2024, Romania will join the system, bringing the number of participating member states to 18.
The UPC has its hands full. The new Court has exclusive jurisdiction – for participating states – over all European patents (unitary and validated – except opted-out) enabling Europe-wide disputes to be settled through a single procedure.
By its first anniversary, the Court had received 373 cases, including (2):
The Luxembourg-based Court of Appeal has received around 85 cases.
The harmonizing effect of the UPC case law is crucial to establishing legal certainty and transparency within the new system, and offers users the predictability they need for their business activities.
(1) EPO UP Dashboard – https://www.epo.org/en/about-us/statistics/statistics-centre#/unitary-patent
(2) Case load UPC – https://www.unified-patent-court.org/sites/default/files/upc_documents/Case%20load%20of%20the%20Court_end%20May%202024_final.pdf
Philippe OCVIRK | European patent attorney | UPC Representative
The European Patent Office (EPO) has announced that many of its fees will be increasing as of 1 April 2024.
For most of the fees, the increase is by about 5%. However, for some of the fees the increase is up to 30%, such as for the third and fourth annuities.
The new rates will apply to official fees paid on or after 1st April 2024 and so for some fees where the applicant has a choice over the timing of payment, savings may be made by proceeding before April.
Consider anticipating payments
We would particularly recommend clients to consider the savings that can be made by anticipating payments for:
Renewal fees: fall due on the last day of the month containing the anniversary of the date of filing of the European patent application. The payment can be made 6 months in advance in respect of the third year and 3 months in advance for the other years.
EPO regional phase: consider anticipating the fee payments in respect of pending PCT applications. It should be kept in mind that without an explicit request for early processing, the EPO will wait until the 31-month period has expired to process the international application. Accordingly, the payments can be made early without actually anticipating the prosecution of the application.
Divisional applications: make a decision on the opportunity of filing a divisional application before April and save on filing and search fees as well as on the (often many) back renewal fees due for the divisional application.
For more information on the increase in fees, and to discuss your options in filing early to save costs, please get in touch with your usual Office Freylinger attorney, or contact us at office@freylinger.com.
Bonne nouvelle ! En 2024, l’Office de l’Union européenne pour la propriété intellectuelle (EUIPO), en collaboration avec la Commission européenne et les offices nationaux de la propriété intellectuelle de l’UE, renouvelle son soutien financier aux petites et moyennes entreprises (PME) de l’Union européenne.
Le Fonds pour les PME, nommé « ideas powered for business », est un programme destiné à aider les petites et moyennes entreprises (PME) établies dans l’UE à protéger leurs droits de propriété intellectuelle (PI), et vise notamment des subventions (sous forme de chèques/Vouchers) couvrant les frais d’enregistrement des marques, des modèles et des brevets. Cette aide financière permet de demander le remboursement d’une partie des frais officiels engagés lors du dépôt de marques, de modèles et de brevets.
Selon le territoire désigné dans la demande, il est possible de bénéficier d’un remboursement allant de 50 à 75 % du montant total des frais officiels engagés, avec un plafond par subvention demandée :aider les petites et moyennes entreprises (PME) établies dans l’UE à protéger leurs droits de propriété intellectuelle (PI).
Nouveauté cette année :
Afin d’être éligible, le demandeur doit être une micro, petite ou moyenne entreprise établie dans l’un des États membres de l’UE et correspondre à la définition d’une PME telle que développée dans la recommandation 2033/361/EC de la Commission du 6 mai 2003.
Les demandes de subventions pour 2024 peuvent déjà être soumises !
L’Office Freylinger et ses spécialistes en propriété intellectuelle peuvent vous aider à vérifier votre éligibilité à ces subventions et à effectuer les démarches auprès de l’EUIPO.
Attention : les demandes de subvention doivent être déposées et acceptées AVANT de procéder aux dépôts. Il est donc préférable de ne pas attendre le dernier moment !
N’hésitez pas à nous contacter pour obtenir plus d’informations sur les modalités pratiques de cette subvention. L’Office Freylinger se fera un plaisir de vous accompagner dans cette démarche !
La détention de droits de propriété intellectuelle (PI) renforce la capacité des start-ups à lever des fonds, en particulier pour les industries de haute technologie dont les besoins en capitaux sont plus élevés
L’Office Européen des Brevets (OEB) et l’Office de l’Union Européenne pour la Propriété Intellectuelle (EUIPO) viennent de publier une nouvelle étude conjointe soulignant à quel point les brevets et les marques peuvent favoriser la réussite des start-ups européennes. Il apparait qu’en moyenne, les start-ups qui détiennent ces deux types de droits de PI au cours de leur phase d’amorçage ou de croissance ont jusqu’à 10,2 fois plus de chances d’obtenir un financement.
En moyenne, 29 % des start-ups européennes ont déposé des droits de propriété intellectuelle, avec des différences importantes entre les secteurs d’activité. La biotechnologie est le secteur le plus représenté, avec près de la moitié des start-ups utilisant des brevets ou des marques déposées. Parmi les autres secteurs figurent les sciences et l’ingénierie (avec 25 % d’utilisateurs de brevets et 38 % d’utilisateurs de marques), les soins de santé (20 % d’utilisateurs de brevets et 40 % d’utilisateurs de marques) et l’industrie manufacturière (20 % d’utilisateurs de brevets et 36 % d’utilisateurs de marques).
Les start-ups du secteur de la “deep tech” sont confrontées à des défis particuliers lorsqu’elles développent des technologies de pointe, car elles requièrent des investissements importants et de longs délais de mise en œuvre. Ces entreprises peuvent tirer profit des brevets et des marques pour attirer des investisseurs “patients”.
Les équipes d’Office Freylinger (juristes et ingénieurs) accompagnent les start-ups pour faire un état des lieux de leur PI et bâtir une stratégie PI sur mesure.
Graphique – source : rapport OEB/EUIPO
First and successful attempt for Office Freylinger. For the first time, we decided to partner with Pilatre-de-Rozier, the organizer of Grand-Est Mondial Air Ballons 2023, the World’s largest hot air balloon meeting.
On Monday and Tuesday we hosted a reception with clients and colleagues in our lodge in Ballonville Patenaire.
All attendees were charmed by the mass ascent. A magical moment.
And some of us had their first flight in a hot air balloon.
L’entrée en vigueur du nouveau système du brevet européen est imminente. Il concerne toutes les entreprises. Venez découvrir les bases de ce nouveau système lors de notre événement :
Cette fois est la bonne ! La ratification allemande courant février a déclenché le compte à rebours pour l’ouverture des portes de la Juridiction unifiée du brevet : le 1er juin 2023.
Depuis le 1er janvier, les demandeurs de brevets européens ont la possibilité de présenter une requête anticipée en effet unitaire auprès de l’Office Européen des Brevets.
La sunrise period a débuté le 1er mars. Les propriétaires de brevets européens peuvent déposer une requête d’Opt-Out auprès du Greffe, afin de déroger à la compétence exclusive de la JUB.
Les décisions sont à prendre maintenant ! Qu’est-ce que le brevet unitaire ? Quelles implications et coûts ? Quel est le rôle de cette nouvelle juridiction supranationale spécialisée en brevets ? Quel est l’impact sur les brevets existants ? Quelles sont les dispositions transitoires ? Comment fonctionne l’opt-out ? Qui peut le déposer et quand ?
Ces différents aspects seront abordés lors de notre atelier par Philippe OCVIRK – European patent attorney.
Date : 23 mars 2023
Horaires. 8h30 : accueil ; 9h00-10h30 : présentation et questions
Lieu : The City by GINKGO 14-16 Avenue Pasteur L-2310 Luxembourg – Parking Glacis – Tram Limpertsberg/Theâtre
Inscription: office@freylinger.com
Lire les informations sur le brevet unitaire sur notre site :
The European Patent Office (EPO) has announced that the official fees charged for European patent applications will be increasing from 1 April 2023. More details of the fee increases can be found on the EPO website.
On average, the official fees will increase by about 5%.
In view of the EPO’s official fee increases, applicants may want to consider the timing for paying fees in relation to their applications to maximise any opportunities to pay lower official fees.
For example, it may be sensible to file a European regional phase application (based on an international (PCT) application) before 1 April 2023, so as to avoid the fee increase. Furthermore, maintenance/renewal fees for European patent applications can be paid up to 3 months in advance of their due date, except for the first fee (for the 3rd year) which can be paid up to 6 months in advance. Filing a divisional application before 1 April 2023 would also bring savings, as would requesting examination and paying designation fees ahead of the due date.
If you would like advice on this, please get in touch with us.
Last Friday, 17 February 2023, the German Government ratified the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court.
This was the last step required to complete the ratification process of the unitary patent package.
It also triggers the countdown of Article 89 UPCA, whereby the Court will open its doors on 1st June 2023 and Unitary Patents will be available from same date.
We have updated our timeline accordingly
As our readers will know, this is a major change in the European patent landscape.
Decisions have to be taken taken now by patent owners, since early requests for unitary patent protection can be already lodged with the EPO. Furthermore, the German ratification triggers the sunrise period, during which patent proprietors can opt out their European patents from the exclusive competence of the new Court.
Please contact your usual Freylinger patent attorney for questions you may have on the UP and UPC. You may also refer to our news on this topic:
On October 6th 2022, the Unified Patent Court Preparatory Team excitedly shared their implementation roadmap for the Unified Patent Court Agreement. The roadmap had initially planned the final ratification of the UPCA for the second half of December 2022, which would then define the date of entry into force of the UPCA to April 1st 2023 and the start of the Sunrise Period to January 1st 2023.
Unfortunately, in order to give enough time for users to prepare for the new system (and in particular in relation to the authentication keys required to access the Case Management System), the UPC has announced today that the start of the Sunrise Period will be delayed to March 1st 2023.
Accordingly, the date of entry into force of the UPCA and the date of application of the regulations regarding the Unitary Patent will be postponed to June 1st 2023.
The start date of the transitional measures regarding the Unitary Patent seems unchanged. From our understanding, it will thus be possible to file an early request for unitary effect and a request for a delay in issuing the decision to grant a European patent as of January 1st 2023.
Sources: Adjustment of the timeline – Start of the Sunrise Period on 1 March 2023
https://www.epo.org/applying/european/unitary/unitary-patent/transitional-arrangements-for-early-uptake.html
On the 1st November 2023, the ten-day rule will be abolished and documents communicated by the EPO will be deemed to be notified at their indicated date.
Associated periods will thus begin to lapse from the date mentioned on communications by the EPO. These periods expiring inevitably earlier, owners of pending patent applications and their legal representatives will need to adjust their tracking of deadlines.
These changes are part of a policy of adaptation of EPC regulations to the digitization of the procedure of patent granting. Further information available at https://www.epo.org/news-events/news/2022/20221021.html
