Protecting IP Assets Worldwide Material Science & Technology 2004 Norbert Hansen Korbinian Kopf September 26-29, 2004 New Orleans, Louisiana Page 1
Protecting IP Assets Worldwide National Patent Protection The PCT System The EPC System Page 2
Patent Protection US National US Application US Patent USPTO Inventor Area of protection: US only Page 3
BUT: YOUR market is global Protection worldwide required (at least all major markets) Page 4
Strategy 1: The National Route National filing in home country, further filings within 12 months in foreign countries claiming priority Advantages 12 months time period for prior art search or patentability evaluation Problems Complex logistics Early investment decision based on few information Low flexibility First filing Foreign filings within 12 month time Page 5
Can you file globally?? PCT: Patent Cooperation Treaty Page 6
Strategy 2: The PCT System 1 application for 123 countries! PCT: Patent Cooperation Treaty PCT member states Page 7
Advantage of the PCT System Timeline (months) Strategy 1 National filing (w/o PCT) Country A Country B Strategy 2 National filing (with PCT) First filing / priority date Country 0 12 30 31 Decision on national filings without search results PCT search results With PCT system search results available before national filing due PCT: Patent Cooperation Treaty Page 8
The PCT System Advantages Up to 31 months of time for decision where patent protection is needed Easy, standardized central application procedure Communication with one office one search PCT Outcome Bundle of national patent applications, all having the same priority date Page 9
The European Patent System EPC Member states (28 plus 5 extension states) EPC member states Austria Belgium Bulgaria Switzerland Cyprus Czech Republic Germany Denmark Estonia Spain Finland France United Kingdom Hellenic Republic Hungary Ireland Italy Liechtenstein Luxembourg Monaco Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Sweden Slovenia Slovakia Turkey Albania Croatia Lithuania Extension states Latvia F.Y.R. of Macedonia EPC: European Patent Convention EPC member states Extension states Page 10
The European Patent System Advantages One application to be filed with the EPO in Munich / The Hague One central Examination and Opposition Procedure ( cost effective) EP patent Decision where protection is needed after grant!! Outcome GB Patent French Patent German Patent Granted EP patent splits up into bundle of national patents Page 11
Protecting IP Assets Worldwide... Patent...spending your money wisely! Page 12
Our European and German Patent Attorneys: Dr. Walter Maiwald Dr. Volker Hamm Dr. Regina Neuefeind Dr. Stefan Michalski Udo Preuss Korbinian Kopf U.S. Patent Agent Who we are: Lutz Kietzmann Dr. Norbert Hansen Dr. Holger Glas Dr. Martin Huenges Dr. Vera Tiefbrunner Dr. Sigrid von Krosigk Dipl. Ing. Ulrich Mägerlein Our Junior Associates and Trainees: Dr. Eva Susanne Ehlich Dr. Dirk Bühler Dr. Senay Has-Becker Dr. Alexander Wittkopp Dr. Christopher Brückner Dr. Sonja Althausen Dr. Jens Sebastian Dr. Andrea Lasar Dr. Christian Schäflein Dr. Derk Vos Dipl. Ing. Univ. Werner Schächtele Dr. Aloys Hüttermann Dipl. Ing. Andreas Vogel Dr. Patrick Liptau Dr. Alexander Bayer Our Attorneys at Law: Stephan N. Schneller, LL.M. Attorney at Law Matthias Gottschalk, MBA Attorney at Law Page 13