Transcript JPO Visit eLearning presentation

THE FUTURE OF THE PATENT SYSTEM IN EUROPE:
NOSTALGIA IS NOT A GOOD ADVISER
EPIP Conference, Lund
Alison Brimelow
President of the EPO
September, 2007, Lund
1
Italian Presidency / European Commission
Conference 2003 "IP Quo Vadis?"
• "Business as usual"
• "If only they understood"
• "We may have a problem here"
2/18
European filings
1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
210 000
Total Filings
208 502
200 000
190 000
180 000
170 000
160 000
150 000
140 000
130 000
Euro-PCT
International
Phase
147 500*
European
Applications
135 183
120 000
110 000
100 000
90 000
80 000
70 000
60 000
Euro-PCT
Regional Phase
74 181
Euro-direct
Applications
61 002
50 000
40 000
30 000
20 000
10 000
0
3/18
• Globally, patent systems face a boom in filings…
– Globalization of markets,
– Harmonization of patent systems (PCT,…)
– New and dynamic countries in the arena (BRICS)
– New technologies (Bio, nano…)
– New actors (SMEs, universities)
– New management of R&D: open innovation
– New strategies (portfolio, thickets, flooding, standards…)
– Active promotion of patenting by governments e.g. Japan
• Growth much stronger than growth in R&D
4/18
Increase in backlogs = increase in uncertainty + scope for
new games
5/18
Audi’s recent A6 ad campaign claimed:
« To date NASA has filed 6,509 patents. In developing the A6, Audi filed
9,621 ». Patenting is identified as a proof of innovation...
6/18
The Scope-Year index...
The average value of EP patents has decreased by 9 SY
49
SY(10,10) from the date of filing
Average Scope-Year Index
47
45
43
41
39
37
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
Year of filing at EPO
Source: van Pottelsberghe and van Zeebroeck (2008)
7/18
And EPO performance has some weak
points
• Productivity
• Unit costs
• 2005 and 2006 results - € 70 m
8/18
On the other hand...
9/18
EPO strategic debate
• European office strong centre = focus on
core business
• Developing role of National Offices in a
changing world
• Engaging with how to utilise
10/18
Strategic Renewal
•
•
•
•
•
•
Raising the bar
The future of work and working
Managing Performance
The European Patent Network
E2E
Governance
11/18
Scenarios - thinking about
"what if" globally and here are some ways forward.
12/18
Challenge
Operational Tools
Most relevant
Scenario(s)
London Agreement
EPLA/Community Patent
Costs
EPN/Trilateral/3+3 (re-use of work)
Procedural Efficiency
Financial IP-support for SMEs
13/18
Challenge
Operational Tools
Most relevant
Scenario(s)
• Fee Policy (Shift to Upfront)
• Fee Policy (Fees as a function of examination
time)
• Restrict possibility for divisionals
Quality
Workload
• EPN
• Applicant Training
• Trilateral
• 3+3
• Peer Review (peer-to-patent)
• Publication of reasoned votum for grant
14/18
Challenge
Operational Tools
Most relevant
Scenario(s)
• Request for examination by third
parties (+ deferred examination)
• Credit for Refusals
• Efficient procedures
Quality
Workload
(continued)
• Increased threshold for inventive
step/sufficiency of disclosure/clarity
• Quality control (internal/external
audits
15/18
Challenge
Operational Tools
Most relevant
Scenario(s)
• Consistent high quality
Blockage
• Reduced scope of rights (e.g. patent
term, limits to injunctions, compulsory
licensing, license of right)
• Fixation of patent rights to the extent of
usage by patentee
• Broadening of exclusions from
patentability
16/18
Challenge
Operational Tools
Most relevant
Scenario(s)
• Regular dialogue with all
stakeholders
• Advisory boards
Ethical, political
debate
• Involvement of national and EU
parliaments
• Intensive contact with international
bodies (WHO, WIPO, WTO)
• Contact with competition and
standard governing bodies
17/18
EPC @ 30
Time to abandon nostalgia and
deliver some change
18/18