Institut der beim Europäischen Patentamt zugelassenen Vertreter Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office Institut des mandataires agréés près l'office européen des brevets Role of patent attorneys in Europe Redefining Landscape for Patent Protection in Europe Tony Tangena President epi Vilnius, 9 October 2014 1
Role of Patent Attorneys in Europe Agenda: Introduction Is Europe still innovative? Challenges for companies Example: Digital world Role European Patent Attorney Summary 2
Challenges of our time Make necessary creative solutions or innovations, but also incentives for creators / innovators 3
IP system provides incentives Innovations help our EU companies to remain competitive and maintain/create jobs Intellectual Property (IP) system provides ways to create value/rewards from innovations: exclusivity, (cross)licensing, JV, defensive means, information 4
Is Europe still innovative? Global innovation index (WIPO, INSEAD, Cornell University) 142 economies covering 95% worlds GDP Five enablers innovative activities: 1. Institutions 2. Human capital and research 3. Infrastructure 4. Market sophistication 5. Business sophistication. Two outputs with actual evidence of innovation: 6. Knowledge and technology outputs 7. Creative outputs. 5
Rank Country 1 CH 2 UK 3 SE 4 FI 5 NL 6 US 13 DE 21 JP 22 FR 24 EE 29 CN 34 LV 39 LT 45 PL 55 RO Global innovation index 2014 top 5 countries are in EPC Means lot of potential for innovations available in Europe 6
Challenges for companies Changes in industry: First industrial revolution: mechanization through water and wind Second industrial revolution: mass production with electricity Third industrial revolution: digital revolution But now Fourth industrial revolution: connected world: internet of things 7
Fourth Industrial Revolution Machines, work pieces and systems are all connected along the entire value chain. They can control each other autonomously. Complexity of production and supplier networks will grow enormously. Factories will be interconnected to large manufacturing systems across geographical regions. 8
Fourth Industrial Revolution 1. Integration of supply chain and producers means innovations need to be shared Need to define who owns what Thus: Intellectual Property is very important Supply chain is all over Europe Thus: necessary to provide well-trained professionals all over Europe 9
Example: The digital world Exciting new products available at affordable prices because of: Complex technologies Fast erosion prices Leads to high-tech ecosystems: Companies need to act quickly Companies need to cooperate Opportunities for companies with specific know-how 10
The digital world From Closed to Open Innovation Closed Open Smart people work for us Discover, develop, ship First to discover, First to market Create most ideas Control closed IP Smart people tap into world Claim own portion of value Profit from Research by others Use most ideas Trade IP 11
The digital world On one hand need for cooperation But on other hand markets are extremely competitive: Only premium price for premium products that distinguish in positive sense from competition IP rights are necessary to provide a supporting frame work for the digital world 12
Role Patent attorney: First rate advisor Technical: think with the inventor to transfer idea to patent application Legal: prosecute patent applications, set-up right legal framework Strategic: have a vision of the future Commercial: make business plan, value creation 13
Future EU patent System epi EPO NPO Patent rights: UP, EU bundle, national Courts: UPC, national Highways to world: PCT, PPH Need to work together to get most of innovations: EPO as central high quality granting organization NPO as first entry from countries to patent system: first filing, information to public, universities, SMEs epi members as first rate advisor for companies and inventors how to make money from innovations 10/10/14 European Patent Institut 14
Summary World needs innovation to solve the big challenges of our time The IP system provides incentives for innovators Europe is still the most innovative geographical region in the world The 4 th industrial revolution will necessitate more specialization and at the same time more cooperation The IP system is a very important enabler for the 4 th industrial revolution European patent attorneys can help companies to make the most from their innovations as first rate advisors in the IP field 15
Institut der beim Europäischen Patentamt zugelassenen Vertreter Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office Institut des mandataires agréés près l'office européen des brevets Thank you for your attention! 16