EPC 2000 1235206 223979168 2008-07-06T20:13:29Z Edcolins 51336 /* Further links */ expanded {{European patent law}} The '''EPC 2000''' or '''European Patent Convention 2000''' is the version of the [[European Patent Convention]] (EPC) as revised by the '''Act Revising the Convention on the Grant of European Patents''' signed in [[Munich]] on [[November 29]], [[2000]]. On [[June 28]], [[2001]], the Administrative Council of the [[European Patent Office]] (EPO) adopted the final new text of the EPC 2000. The EPC 2000 entered into force on [[December 13]], [[2007]]. <ref name="FAQ2"> [[European Patent Office]] (EPO) web site, [http://www.epo.org/patents/law/legislative-initiatives/epc2000/faq.html#answer2 ''Frequently asked questions about the revised European Patent Convention (EPC 2000)''], item 2. Consulted on October 31, 2007. </ref> The EPC 2000 does not introduce any major changes in substantive patent law,<ref name=epidosnews> EPO, [http://www.european-patent-office.org/news/epidosnews/epd_1_07/pinews_0107_en.pdf ''EPC 2000 and its impact for patent searchers''], ''[[Patent Information News]]'', Issue 1, 2007, page 1. </ref> <ref> EPO web site, [http://www.epo.org/patents/law/legislative-initiatives/epc2000/faq.html#answer9 ''Frequently asked questions about the revised European Patent Convention (EPC 2000)''], item 9. Consulted on October 31, 2007. </ref> except changes concerning [[novelty (patent)|novelty]], <ref> Deletion of {{EPC 1973 Article|54|4}}, regarding the prior art effect of conflicting European patent applications. </ref> [[industrial applicability]] and [[priority right]]s. The EPC 2000 is however a comprehensive revision <ref> EPO web site, [http://www.epo.org/patents/law/legislative-initiatives/epc2000/faq.html#answer1 ''Frequently asked questions about the revised European Patent Convention (EPC 2000)''], item 1. Consulted on October 31, 2007. </ref> introducing "a considerable number of smaller amendments".<ref name=epidosnews/> == Background == A diplomatic conference was held from [[20 November]] to [[29 November]] [[2000]] in Munich to revise the Convention on the Grant of European Patents of [[5 October]] [[1973]], amongst other things to integrate in the EPC new developments in [[international law]], especially those of the [[Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights]] (TRIPs Agreement) and of the [[Patent Law Treaty]], and to add a level of judicial review of the [[Appeal procedure before the European Patent Office|Boards of Appeal]] decisions. == Entry into force == Greece deposited its instrument of [[ratification]] on [[December 13]], [[2005]], and was the fifteenth Contracting State to ratify or [[accession|accede]] to the EPC 2000.<ref>EPO web site, [http://patlaw-reform.european-patent-office.org/epc2000/status/ "Legislative Initiatives in European patent law" microsite, EPC 2000, Status of accession and ratification]</ref> In addition, since not all the contracting states had deposited their instruments of ratification or accession by [[September 30]], [[2007]], the EPC 2000 will enter into force on [[December 13]], [[2007]].<ref name="FAQ2"/> <ref> [[Official Journal of the European Patent Office|Official Journal of the EPO]], 2/2006, [http://www.european-patent-office.org/news/info/pdf/mitteilung_06_02_2006.pdf ''Notice from the European Patent Office dated 27 January 2006 concerning deposit of the fifteenth instrument of ratification of the EPC Revision Act''] </ref> <ref> The EPC 2000 could have entered into force earlier, that is "on the first day of the third month following the deposit of the instrument of ratification or accession by the Contracting State taking this step as the last of all Contracting States, if this takes place earlier". However, as mentioned, since not all the contracting states had deposited their instruments of ratification or accession by September 30, 2007, the EPC 2000 will enter into force on December 13, 2007.</ref> A Contracting State that will not have ratified or acceded to the EPC 2000 at the time of its entry into force, i.e. on December 13, 2007, will cease to be party to the EPC as from that time.<ref> {{EPC Article|172|4}} </ref> == Amendments == {{Expand|list of amendments, which is not exhaustive (e.g., information on deregulation, remedies, medical use claim, and doctrine of equivalents is missing),|date=November 2007}} === Prior art effect and double patenting === Under the EPC 1973, in order to preclude [[double patenting]], <ref name="54-item 2"> OJ 2007, Special edition 4/2007, page 52, item 2. </ref> the prior art effect of a first European patent application (a so-called "conflicting patent application") filed before the filing date of a second European patent application, but published after said filing date, on the second application is limited to the designated states in common. <ref> {{EPC 1973 Article|54|4}} </ref> In the EPC 2000, this provision, i.e. Article 54(4) EPC, has been deleted. <ref name="54-item 3"> OJ 2007, Special edition 4/2007, page 52, item 3. </ref> This means in the EPC 2000 that "any European application falling under Article 54(3) EPC constitutes prior art with effect for all the EPC contracting states at the time of its publication." <ref name="54-item 3"/> {{EPC 1973 Rule|23a}} has been deleted following the deletion of Article 54(4). <ref name="54-item 3"/> <ref> Special Edition No. 1 OJ EPO, p. 164. </ref> The deleted Article 54(4) EPC remains applicable to the European patents granted before December 13, 2007 and the European patent applications pending on December 13, 2007. <ref name="54-item 4"> OJ 2007, Special edition 4/2007, page 52, item 4. </ref> In other words, Art. 54(4) EPC 1973 is still transitionally applicable. <ref> EPC 2000 Guidelines C-III, 8.1 (i). </ref> This amendment along with the absence of a transitional provision for Rule 23a (providing that Rule 23a EPC 1973 would continue to apply for pending applications or granted patents at the date of entry into force of the EPC 2000) has raised concerns that, "if the provisions of the EPC 2000 are interpreted strictly", <ref name="Griebling"> O. Griebling, ''[http://216.92.57.242/patentepi/data/epi_02_2007.pdf EPC2000 invalidates existing patents?]'', [[European Patent Institute|'''epi''' Information]] 2/2007, June 2007, page 61. </ref> patent rights existing at the date of entry into force of the EPC 2000 may become invalid after the entry into force of the EPC 2000, on December 13, 2007. <ref name="Griebling"/> In September 2007, the European Patent Office published a notice indicating that "the provisions currently laid down in Article 54(3) and (4) in conjunction with Rule 23a EPC 1973 will continue to apply to European patent applications filed and patents granted before the entry into force of the EPC 2000".<ref> EPO, [http://www.european-patent-office.org/epo/pubs/oj007/10_07/10_5047.pdf ''Notice from the European Patent Office dated 20 September 2007 on implementation of the transitional provisions of the EPC 2000 applicable during the transition from the EPC 1973 to the EPC 2000], [[Official Journal EPO]] 10/2007, p. 504. </ref> === Requirements for obtaining a date of filing === The requirements to obtain a date of filing (for a European patent application), laid out in Article 80, have been amended. A reference is now made to the Implementing Regulations, which are now in line with "the wordwide standard laid out in Article 5 of the [[Patent Law Treaty]] 2000 (PLT)". <ref name="4/2007-84-1"> OJ 2007, Special edition 4/2007, page 84, item 1. </ref> In particular, Rule 40 EPC 2000 is relevant. <ref name="4/2007-84-1"/> There is no requirement anymore to file [[claim (patent)|claim]]s to obtain a date of filing. <ref name="4/2007-84-2"> OJ 2007, Special edition 4/2007, page 84, item 2. </ref> In addition the description may be filed in any language. <ref name="4/2007-84-2"/> Among the requirements, a reference to a previously filed application may also be used to obtain a date of filing. <ref> Rule 40(1)(c) EPC 2000 </ref> === Priority rights extended to first filing in WTO members === The [[priority right]]s are extended to filing in or for any member of the [[World Trade Organization]] (WTO), in addition to any state party to the [[Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property]]. <ref> Article 87(1) EPC 2000 </ref> This amendment has been made to align the European Patent Convention with Article 2 of the TRIPS Agreement. <ref> OJ 2007, Special edition 4/2007, page 88, item 2. </ref> === Requests for limitation or revocation === {{main|Limitation and revocation procedures before the European Patent Office}} Article 105a(1) EPC 2000 introduces a procedure for centrally limiting or revoking a European patent. <ref> Article 105a(1) EPC 2000. </ref> A request for limitation or revocation may be filed at any time throughout the [[term of patent|term]] of the European patent. <ref> EPO web site, [http://www.epo.org/patents/law/legislative-initiatives/epc2000/faq.html#answer10 ''Frequently asked questions about the revised European Patent Convention (EPC 2000)''], item 10. Consulted on October 31, 2007. </ref> === Petition for review === Article 112a EPC 2000 introduces a procedure for contesting the decisions of the [[Appeal procedure before the European Patent Office|boards of appeal]] by filing a petition for review. <ref> Article 112a EPC 2000 </ref> The petition for review can only be based on a fundamental procedural defect and its purpose is not to obtain a review of the application of substantive law. <ref> EPO web site, [http://www.epo.org/patents/law/legislative-initiatives/epc2000/faq.html#answer14 ''Frequently asked questions about the revised European Patent Convention (EPC 2000)''], item 14. Consulted on October 31, 2007. </ref> The first petitions for review included ''R1/08'' (application no 97600009), ''R2/08'' (application no 00936978), and ''R4/08'' (application no 98116534). <ref> {{fr icon}} Laurent Teyssedre, [http://europeanpatentcaselaw.blogspot.com/2008/07/premires-requtes-en-rvision.html ''Premières requêtes en révision''], Le blog du droit européen des brevets, July 6, 2008. Consulted on July 6, 2008. </ref> == References == * European Patent Office, [http://www.european-patent-office.org/epo/pubs/oj007/08_07/special_edition_4_epc_2000_synoptic.pdf ''Official Journal (OJ) 2007, Special edition 4/2007''] - ''Revision of the European Patent Convention (EPC 2000). Synoptic presentation EPC 1973/2000'' – Part I: The Articles (PDF, 1.72 MB) == Notes == <!--This article uses the Cite.php citation mechanism. If you would like more information on how to add references to this article, please see http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Cite/Cite.php --> <div class="references-small"> {{reflist|2}} </div> == External links == * [http://www.epo.org/patents/law/legislative-initiatives/epc2000.html EPC 2000] on the [[European Patent Office]] web site * [http://www.ige.ch/E/jurinfo/j100.shtm#a05 EPC 2000] on the [[Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property]] web site * [http://www.ipo.gov.uk/p-law-changes EPC 2000] on the [[United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office]] web site === Further links and readings === * EPO web site ** Special editions of the [[Official Journal of the EPO]]: *** [http://www.european-patent-office.org/epo/pubs/oj007/01_07/special_edition_1_epc_2000.pdf 1/2007 - Revision of the EPC (EPC 2000), New texts relevant for patent practitioners], 2007 (PDF, 1.6 MB). *** [http://www.european-patent-office.org/epo/pubs/oj007/08_07/special_edition_3_epc_2000_decisions.pdf 3/2007 - Revision of the European Patent Convention (EPC 2000). Update of decisions of the President and notices from the European Patent Office of relevance to patent practitioners], 2007 (PDF, 1.3 MB). *** [http://www.european-patent-office.org/epo/pubs/oj007/08_07/special_edition_4_epc_2000_synoptic.pdf 4/2007 - Revision of the European Patent Convention (EPC 2000). Synoptic presentation EPC 1973/2000 – Part I: The Articles], 2007 (PDF, 1.72 MB). *** [http://www.european-patent-office.org/epo/pubs/oj007/12_07/special_edition_5_epc_2000_regulations.pdf 5/2007 - Revision of the European Patent Convention (EPC 2000). Synoptic presentation EPC 1973/2000 – Part II: The Implementing Regulations], 2007. ** [http://www.european-patent-office.org/epo/dipl_conf/documents.htm Diplomatic Conference to revise the European Patent Convention - EPC 2000] ** [http://academy.epo.org/e_learning/epc_2000/player.html European Patent Academy, ''e-learning module on the EPC 2000''] ** [http://patlaw-reform.european-patent-office.org/epc2000/guidelines/index.en.php EPC 2000 Guidelines - status December 2007] * {{de icon}} [http://www.bgblportal.de/BGBL/bgbl1f/bgbl107s2166.pdf ''Gesetz zur Umsetzung der Akte von 29. November 2000 zur Revision des Übereinkommens über die Erteilung europaïscher Patente, Vom 24. August 2007''], Bundesgesetzblatt Jahrgang 2007 Teil I Nr. 45, page 2166-2168. ** See also: {{de icon}} [http://frei.bundesgesetzblatt.de/pdf/bgbl2/bgbl207s1082.pdf Ratification Act] and {{de icon}} [http://frei.bundesgesetzblatt.de/pdf/bgbl2/bgbl207s1199.pdf Implementing Regulations] published in the German Federal Law Gazette or ''Bundesgesetzblatt'' {{European Patent Organisation}} [[Category:2000 in law]] [[Category:European Patent Organisation]]