‘My aim is to guide the client, so he understands how IPR strategy can contribute to his objectives and needs.’
Marijke Westra
- Life Sciences
- European and Dutch Patent Attorney, European Patent Litigator
- Senior Associate
Marijke joined V.O. in 2009, She advises clients on the protection of intellectual property in all areas of life sciences, primarily in biochemistry, biotechnology and molecular biology.
News
Referral to the Enlarged Board of Appeal regarding the applicability of G 1/24 claim interpretation to added-matter analysis (T 873/24)
In T 873/24 (Board of Appeal 3.3.05, oral proceedings 3 February 2026), the Board announced that it will refer questions to the Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBA) on whether (and how) the Enlarged Board’s claim-interpretation guidance in G 1/24 extends to the assessment of added subject-matter under Article 123(2) EPC and Article 76(1) EPC.Continue reading
Interpreting claim terms “holistically” after G 1/24: description-based definition applied in T 0439/22 (Board 3.2.01)
In T 0439/22 (Technical Board of Appeal 3.2.01, 11 December 2025) the Board applied the Enlarged Board’s guidance in G 1/24 on claim interpretation. The decision is a practical illustration of how an explicit definition in the description can determine the meaning of a seemingly straightforward term used in the claims. As this case shows, […]Continue reading
Omission of drawings from the granted patent: limits of “deemed approval” and appeal as a remedy (T 0550/25)
In T 0550/25 (Technical Board of Appeal, 10 February 2026), the Board addressed a recurring procedural mishap: drawing sheets are missing from the text annexed to a Rule 71(3) EPC communication and the patent is granted without them. The decision is practically significant because it confirms that, in such circumstances, the applicant’s grant fee payment […]Continue reading