An occasional newsletter with items of interest to clients and associates around the world

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In recent weeks it has been reported that the French Government is close to ratifying the London Agreement.  If France ratifies, then the Agreement will come into force, and the requirement for full translations of European patents at the point of grant will be waived in many European countries.

This will bring about a huge reduction in the costs of obtaining patents in Europe.

We welcome this development, and will advise our clients immediately that the situation becomes definite.

The new version of the European Patent Convention (so-called EPC 2000) will come into effect by December 2007 at the latest.  Click on the following links to read our briefing notes on what we consider to be the two most significant developments in the revised Convention:

Use-limited product protection for pharmaceuticals

Two sets of questions on points of law have recently been referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal of the EPO.

Case G1/07 is concerned with the extent to which diagnostic procedures are excluded from patentability when they include steps involving physical intervention practised on the human or animal body.

Case G2/07 also poses questions about exclusions from patentability, this time of processes for the production of plants or animals.

Click on the links above to access our briefing notes on these cases.