Podium – Tagworks Pharmaceuticals
In this section we give a stage to start-ups and scale-ups that develop groundbreaking products or services. This time: Tagworks Pharmaceuticals from Nijmegen.
Continue readingIn this section we give a stage to start-ups and scale-ups that develop groundbreaking products or services. This time: Tagworks Pharmaceuticals from Nijmegen.
Continue readingGroundbreaking ideas can change the world. Does your startup focus on social impact, energy transition, digital progress or solutions for the circular economy? Then enter the first ever NL Startup Competition and win € 10,000 prize money, valuable networking opportunities and new knowledge and inspiration. V.O. Patents & Trademarks is pleased to support this competition as sponsor and jury member.
Continue readingEntrepreneurs make the Netherlands economically stronger and society increasingly sustainable. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) contributes to this by encouraging them to invest in solutions to societal challenges.
Continue readingWith a growing product portfolio, Munich-based biotech company Secarna Pharmaceuticals focuses on developing so-called antisense oligonucleotide drugs, or ASOs. These drugs are used, for example, within immunoncology and in the treatment of inflammation and fibrosis. In addition, Secarna is working with partners to develop ASOs for numerous other medical applications.
Continue readingYou have invested considerable time, energy and expense in developing and protecting an invention, design, trademark or logo. At some point you discover that a third party enters the market with a method, product, design or trademark that appears to infringe on your intellectual property (IP) rights. The question is what action you can take.
Continue readingThe right of priority is the basis of international patent protection, allowing the applicant to continue the original patent application abroad within one year while maintaining the original filing date. In recent years, an increasing number of patents have been revoked in opposition proceedings at the European Patent Office (EPO) due to an invalid transfer of the right of priority.
Continue reading‘Should we carry out more experiments to substantiate the concept of our invention? Or will this take too much time, and will it give the competition an opportunity to file their application earlier?’ These are questions that many innovative companies face each time when a new patentable idea is conceived.
Continue readingIn this section, we give a stage to start-ups and scale-ups developing pioneering products or services. What sets these companies apart and what are their ambitions? This time, we speak to Harpert Wouters, co-founder of HelpSoq.
Continue readingYou have an invention and you want to protect it with a patent. Then you often need to provide a good technical drawing to clarify your invention. The draftsmen at V.O. can help you create a drawing that meets all the formal requirements set by patent offices, among others.
Continue readingTechnology companies need to act readily when it comes to applying - in a timely manner - for grants or funding for their innovations. Leap is an innovation consulting firm that specializes in grants, brokers funding and helps companies innovate. We spoke to Rob Luyben, business manager at Leap.
Continue readingThere is a special provision in the law for the award of legal costs in lawsuits concerning the enforcement of intellectual property rights (IP). However, the court has sufficient room in its judgment on the award of legal costs to take into account all the circumstances of the individual case. This is demonstrated by the judgment in the proceedings between Samsung Bioepis and Novartis (Court of The Hague 31 May 2023, ECLI:NL:RBDHA:2023:7492
Continue readingEveryone knows them: the stackable Pringles chips, the glass bottle of Coca-Cola or the finger design of the Kit-Kat chocolate bar. Each of these are product and packaging forms with a design that has stuck in consumers' minds for years. While food products as such are not eligible for trademark and design protection, product and packaging forms are.
Continue readingThis summer ten trainees from V.O. successfully completed V.O.'s internal patent attorney training. In July, Vicky Andréka, Leen Beller, Raimondo Cau, Tamara Idema, Monika Jędrzejczyk, Martin Pekař, Matthijs Roelofs, Senne Plessers, Sara Tekavec and Lydia Schenk festively received their certificates.
Continue readingIAM Patent 1000 has honored our practices in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany with a gold, silver and bronze recommendation, respectively. Furthermore, for the Netherlands, individual recommendations go to Leo Jessen, Hajo Kraak, Bernard Ledeboer, Otto Oudshoorn and Frits Schut. For Belgium Annemie Jaeken, Marco Molling and Annemie Swinnen are recommended, and for Germany Bettina Hermann and Jennifer Ebner von Eschenbach.
Continue readingThe innovation competitions organized by a number of universities in the Netherlands are running at full speed. This year, the TU Delft Impact Contest (TU Delft), the WUR Challenge (Wageningen University & Research), the UT Challenge (University of Twente) and the TU/e Contest (TU Eindhoven have already taken place.
Continue readingAs of 1 October, Hans Bottema has joined V.O. as a partner. Hans is a highly experienced European and Dutch patent attorney and European patent litigator. He has an impressive career in IP. He was a partner at NLO for more than 24 years.
Continue readingIn summary proceedings brought by Grünenthal against Teva regarding Grünenthal's European patent EP 1 457 208 on testosterone depot compositions, the Dutch court ruled in favor of Grünenthal on 3 October.
Continue readingOn 28 September, JUVE Patent published the JUVE Patent Netherlands ranking 2023. A comprehensive ranking of all leading Dutch patent firms, patent attorneys and litigators, compiled after thorough research. Our firm is given a prominent position in this ranking.
Continue readingAfter releasing the first edition of the book Antibody Patenting: A Practitioner's Guide to Drafting, Prosecution and Enforcement in August 2019, the second edition recently saw its publication. It is published by Wolters Kluwer as part of AIPPI's Law Series. It is edited by Jürgen Meier and Oswin Riddersbuch, both members of AIPPI's Biotechnology Committee.
Continue readingIn this section, we give a stage to start-ups, developing products or services that could prove groundbreaking in the future. What sets these companies apart and what are their ambitions? This time, we speak to Sandeep Unnikrishnan, co-founder of LionVolt.
Continue readingMetaverse is the term for activities in which people connect through virtual worlds rather than a traditional social network. They do so using virtual glasses, helmets and haptic gloves. Increasingly, brands are part of these virtual worlds. Then protection of those brands also comes into play.
Continue readingIn the Tools section, V.O. experts review online tools for IE-aware innovators. In this edition, we look at ChatGPT, an experimental AI-driven chatbot based on a so-called large language model. The tool has already received much attention for its ability to understand human prompts and generate all kinds of texts. Since texts play an important role in the world of IE, the question is what ChatGPT has to offer in that regard.
Continue readingAs in past years, this year V.O. also supports the innovation competition that our country's four universities of technology enter into among themselves and with each other. Thus, the Eindhoven University of Technology organizes the TU/e Contest, Wageningen University & Research the WUR Challenge, University of Twente the UT Challenge and the Delft University of Technology the TU Delft Impact Contest. Recently, Erasmus University also joined in with the Erasmus University Challenge.
Continue readingOn 12 July, Tamara Idema was registered as a European patent attorney, after she passed the European Qualifying Examination (EQE) a few weeks earlier.
Continue readingV.O. is constantly looking for suitable candidates to train as patent attorneys. With the recruitment campaign LOVE SCIENCE, THINK BUSINESS that can be seen on Instagram and LinkedIn, we entice students and recent graduates to visit our special campaign website. Here they get insight into the profession, the training program and trainees tell about their experiences at V.O.
Continue reading21 June marked the 18th annual awards ceremony hosted by Managing IP. This ceremony was traditionally held in London, in the presence of more than 500 guests. Prestigious awards in a wide range of IP service categories were given to a selection of renowned IP firms from Europe, the Middle East and Europe (EMEA).
Continue readingIP plays a crucial role in the development of innovative products and technologies. To stimulate companies with an active innovation policy, many subsidies and funding opportunities have been created, such as Horizon Europe, the SME Fund, Eurostars, the Innovatiebox, the RVO scheme Innovatiekrediet, KIEM and SBIR innovatie in opdracht. Below is a brief introduction.
Continue readingThe Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office issued a ruling on "plausibility" on 23 March 2023. Peter de Lange, patent attorney at V.O.: "For practice, this is an important ruling, especially for pharma, life sciences and chemistry. In those fields, you always have to check whether the client has sufficient experimental data to support the invention in the application.
Continue readingAs of 1 June, the new European patent system is in force and the Unified Patent Court (UPC) finally opens its doors. This completes the preparations that had begun back in 1975 to create a truly European patent court.
Continue readingWithin your organization, various legal documents circulate daily – from employment contract to license and NDA. But is your company's intellectual property contractually well regulated in these documents? With the Legal Quick Scan we can assess this for you quickly and at a fixed rate.
Continue readingWhen the unitary patent and the Unified Patent Court (UPC) come into force on June 1 this year, all European patents can be involved in enforcement proceedings before this new European Patent Court. This court will then decide enforcement measures and invalidity proceedings in all 17 EU countries at once.
Continue readingToday, the German government deposited its instrument of ratification of the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (UPCA) with the Council of the European Union.
Continue readingThe new unitary patent and related court (Unified Patent Court, UPC) is expected to go into effect on 1 June 2023. The new unitary patent and UPC rules directly affect existing and new license agreements. It is important to review your license agreements (or have them reviewed). We briefly list the most salient points of attention below.
Continue readingAs of 1 January 2023, three new partners have joined V.O., namely patent attorneys Jetze Beeksma, Henri van Kalkeren and Martin Klok.
Continue readingThe annual IGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) competition allows students to tackle societal problems through synthetic biology.
Continue readingAs of 1 October, V.O. has added a sixth Meet the Expert location, and it is in the Hugo R. Kruyt Building on the Campus of Utrecht University. Meet the Expert locations are drop-in points located at the relevant knowledge centers where innovative SMEs and start-ups can get in touch with our IP experts for advice and practical tips.
Continue readingThe Unified Patent Court (UPC) will soon be operational. This pan-European patent court is expected to open its doors in the first quarter of 2023. From then on, it will also be possible to validate European patents upon grant as a “unitary patent” with protection for 17 participating EU countries at the same time.
Continue readingInnovations in the field of synthetic biology have many applications. For example, a TU-Delft student team, SPYKE, is working on an invention that can detect GHB drug in drinks. The team is doing this as part of the annual, international iGEM competition. V.O. is sponsoring this team: with advice and help with the patent application.
Continue readingOn 19 October 2022, 85 judges were appointed to the Unified Patent Court (UPC). Starting 1 April 2023, this new court will decide on litigation procedures in both European patents and unitary patents, in 17 European countries. V.O. is pleased to announce that patent attorney and partner Bernard Ledeboer is appointed as part time technically qualified judge.
Continue readingIn late September, V.O. received a 'recommendation' from JUVE Patent in the Patent Filing and Litigation: Patent Attorneys categories for the second year in a row. Mentioned as 'recommended individuals' are Jetze Beeksma, Marco Box, Leo Jessen, Martin Klok, Bernard Ledeboer and Otto Oudshoorn. Continue reading
In July, no less than five associates of V.O. were registered as European patent attorneys, after having learned a few weeks earlier that they had all passed their EQE (European Qualifying Examination).
The German shoe brand Birkenstock is mainly known for their sandals having the unique, anatomically shaped insole. The company had registered the depiction of the pattern of the sole of their shoes as a Benelux device mark. An attempt to have it registered as an EU trademark as well, failed, however.
Apple Watch, Fitbit Charge, Samsung Galaxy Watch, Garmin Vivosmart, just to name but a few of the numerous smart watches and activity trackers that should help us live healthier lives. With their built-in sensors they measure and analyze our heart rate, how many calories we burn and our sleeping pattern.
From time to time, patent lawsuits hit the newspaper headlines, usually when large multinationals are battling each other in many countries all over the world. Quite likely, you’ll have heard of the disputes between Samsung and Apple. Continue reading
Belgium has a few separate tax schemes that apply to acquired IP rights. For instance, the innovation allowance for innovation income. This means that 85% of the net income ensuing from IP rights is exempt from corporate income tax. Continue reading
During the Managing IP Award Ceremony that took place in London on 15 June, V.O. was presented with no less than three awards. Continue reading
On 10 March, the new V.O. ‘Meet the Expert’ location was opened on the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) campus. This additional location will make V.O. even more accessible to, among others, high tech entrepreneurs and organizations.
Open Source software and hardware have many advantages, but there are big differences when it comes to the obligations involved. Because of this, we organised a series of seminars in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, during which we examined Open Source and looked at how it fits into a business model.
Continue readingIn the case of AGA Medical Corporation vs. Occlutech (UK) Limited, the British High Court of Justice declared AGA"s patent to be null and void. Although the European Patent Office"s (EPO) Opposition Division has also revoked the patent, they made their decision on entirely different grounds. This difference of opinion emphasizes yet again the lack of harmonisation between the national courts and the EPO.
Continue readingThe fate of a licence if the licensor is declared bankrupt is far from straightforward. Generally, the licensee has an interest in being able to continue using the licence "as normal". A recent ruling by the Dutch Supreme Court appears to support this. There is, as yet, no unequivocal answer.
Continue readingTo obtain protection for industrial designs, the most important requirement is that the design concerned is new and has an "individual character". This individuality has been the subject of much debate by the courts.
Continue readingWho owns an invention? Generally, the inventor does not apply for the patent. In many cases, the applicant is the inventor"s employer. But who is entitled to the revenue from the patent? The rules differ depending on the country. New legislation is also in the offing in China.
Continue readingThe goods that were most frequently seized by customs last year are clothing (12%), medicines (10%) and cigarettes (9%), originating mainly from China.
Continue readingIn practise, the outsourcing of IP by enterprises having in-house IP departments often appears to be more complex that it may seem at first. V.O. has published a whitepaper that provides clarity in this matter.
Continue readingOn 13 September 2014, a new patent law enters into force in New Zealand. This law is tougher on a number of points than its predecessor.
Continue readingIn an organisation that specialises in patents, brands and designs, our attorneys-at-law have found themselves almost forced to operate on the sidelines.
Continue readingLike previous year, V.O. is sponsor to the Global Patent Congress 2014, to be held in Copenhagen from 22-24 September.
Continue readingOn 1 January and 1 April 2014, a number of changes were made to German design law and the German Patent Act.
Continue readingThis means that Belgium is the fourth country to have effectively welcomed the new Unified European Patent. Belgium ratified the Agreement on the Unified Patent Court on 6 June 2014, after it had already been approved by the Belgian Parliament before the elections that were held on 24 May 2014.
Continue readingThe new Belgian Patent Act of 10 January 2011 is expected to enter into force in the autumn of 2014.
Continue readingIn the Alice Corp. v CLS ruling, the American Supreme Court has made it clear that the development and sale of computer systems and programs cannot be protected by a patent if it only involves a general implementation of an inventive abstract concept.
Continue readingIn its decision Medinol vs Abbot, the Dutch supreme court has clarified the law on use of claim construction to import limitations that are not present in the literal meaning of a patent claim.
Continue readingIn the Netherlands, we have employers’ IP rights. In other words: intellectual property rights ensuing from activities that are performed by employees will accrue to the employer. However, this is subject to one condition, namely that the activities undertaken by the employee fall within the scope of his job description. This makes a good job description important. It will also be vital to make clear agreements about the remuneration that the employee receives.
Continue readingChemical company DSM, which uses the services of V.O. for cases involving intellectual property rights, recently achieved commercial success by eliminating a patent held by its competitor 3D Systems. Both companies are active in the field of stereolithography, a technology that can be used to create a three-dimensional object through the layered polymerisation of a liquid with light (photopolymerisation).
Continue readingV.O. believes that it is important to be in the market and close to its clients. This is why Hajo Kraak, a specialist in Chemistry and Life Sciences, has been working from the V.O. office in Arnhem since 1 February 2014. By doing this, he is responding to the wishes and needs of the growing number of clients that the company has in this region.
Continue readingIn a legal sense, a brand is defined as a sign that is open to graphic depiction and that can be used to distinguish the goods or services that an organisation offers. In short, a brand is a distinctive sign. External product characteristics are open to graphic depiction too, but are almost never eligible for trademark protection. This is because they are rarely deemed capable of distinguishing the product in question, despite the fact that product characteristics are actually recognised as an indication of origin.
Continue readingIn January, two Dutch and European patent attorneys for V.O. were registered as Belgian patent attorneys too: Annemie Jaeken and Bart Jan Niestadt. Annemie works at the V.O. office in Leuven; Bart Jan divides his time between the offices in Eindhoven and Leuven.
Continue readingIn the last newsletter, we drew your attention to a seminar about IP cases involving China, which is scheduled for the spring of this year. We can now inform you that the seminar will take place from 3 to 6 p.m., on Wednesday 23 April in Eindhoven and on Thursday 24 April in Leuven. The title of the seminar is Trademarks & Patents, Eight Golden Rules for your Business with China.
Continue readingAccording to Article 123 (2) of the European Patent Convention (EPC), no amendments may be proposed to a patent application in procedures before the European Patent Office if the amendments in question are not covered by the content of the original application submitted. The object of this article was to prevent an invention from shifting over time to become something that was actually only invented at a later date. However, there is a problem with the interpretation of this particular article.
Continue readingFor the third time V.O. has won the MIP Global Award for The Netherlands Prosecution IP Firm of the year.
Continue readingSmall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) prove to profit, just like big companies, from the protection of innovative products through patents. This is in contrast to what has been generally assumed to date.
Continue readingThe Belgian government sets great store on making entrepreneurs in SMEs more innovation-minded. That’s why in July of this year the project I innovate was started.
Continue readingEffective 1 April 2014, it will be possible again to file divisional applications as long as the parent application is still pending. That announcement has recently been made by the European Patent Office (EPO).
Continue readingAn idea in itself is not straightaway eligible for protection by copyright. That’s what Raab TV has found out recently.
Continue readingExaminers of the European Patent Office (EPO) at times make a study trip to countries or regions outside the EPO zone. When they do, a primary aim is an exchange of knowledge, promoting collaboration between the two parties.
Continue readingFollowing the seminar held in Munich in October 2011, V.O. organised a second edition in October 2013, titled Autumn Seminar on Recent Developments in IP.
Continue readingThe European Patent Office has announced that from 1 April 2014 the rules posing time limits on filing divisional patent applications will be abolished.
Continue readingV.O. has again been elected IP Firm of the Year by the British magazine Managing Intellectual Property for its patent and trademarks services in the Netherlands. The election took place during the 2013 edition of Managing IP Global Awards.
Continue readingAs of 30 March 2013 the name of our firm shall be V.O. The new name is the abbreviation of Vereenigde Octrooibureaux, the official name by which the firm was founded back in 1916.
Continue readingAs of 1 December Marie-José Luys reinforces the team of patent attorneys in the Belgian office of Vereenigde, which was recently set up in Science Park Arenberg, Leuven.
Continue readingDutch court rules Apple has asserted European patent No 2059868 against Samsung in a number of countries.
Continue readingA recent decision of the preliminary relief judge offers new possibilities in the Netherlands for holders of intellectual property rights valid abroad.
Continue readingSince a couple of months VEREENIGDE has a second German office. In addition to Munich, where we have had an office since 2008, we are now also present in Regensburg, a city located on the Danube 100 km North-East of Munich.
Continue readingThe British IP journal "Intellectual Asset Management" recently published the guide "IAM Patent 1000 - The World"s Leading Patent Practioners".
Continue readingThe Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office has ruled on the prior art effect of electronic communication in a pair of test cases. These test cases (T2/09 and T1553/06) were initiated by Philips Electronics and DSM under the aegis of the Dutch organization of entrepreneurs.
Continue readingThe district court in summary proceedings rejected Taste of Nature’s bid to ban infringement of their European Raphanus patent.
Continue readingBecause of Queen"s Day, all offices of VEREENIGDE in the Netherlands will be closed on Monday 30 April. As from Tuesday 1 May we will be at your service again.
Continue readingRecently, the Court of Appeal (Hof) at The Hague ruled on the validity of Lundbeck’s patent on the antidepressant Escitalopram (EP 0 347 666).
Continue readingAs from 1 January 2012, Michiel van Rooij and Marco Molling, practising from respectively the Arnhem and The Hague offices, have joined the partnership of VEREENIGDE.
Continue readingIn a recent decision of August 2011, T923/08, a Technical Board of Appeal (BoA) had to decide on a method for measuring parameters on a human or animal body, in particular measuring the length of a femur.
Continue readingThe proper IP strategy for a company can differ depending on several company-specific factors, such as the business field of the company, its market performance, competitive position, and - of course - the budget available.
Continue readingThe Dutch government has committed itself to including a breeder’s exemption in the Dutch patent law. Political opposition and lobby groups are advocating for a full (UPOV 1978-style) breeder’s exemption.
Continue readingVEREENIGDE held a seminar in Munich from 18 to 20 September 2011 focusing on European Patent strategies. The event was hosted by VEREENIGDE"s Munich office in cooperation with VEREENIGDE"s headquarters in The Hague.
Continue readingRecently, a new chapter was added to the ongoing attempts of the Dutch courts to provide cross-border injunctions in intellectual property cases
Continue reading
Each year, the British magazine Managing Intellectual Property (MIP) conducts a survey of PCT filing firms.
Once the U.S. provisions relating to the First-Inventor-to-File system come into effect on 16 March 2013, foreign priority applications will have the same benefits as U.S. provisional applications.
Continue readingIt is established practice in the Netherlands that the extent of damage that occurs as a consequence of a tort need not be proven up to the hilt.
Continue readingIn two recent decisions of the Technical Boards of Appeal of the EPO, the recording of the transfer of a European patent played an important role in the admissibility of the appeal.
Continue readingIn two recent decisions of the Technical Boards of Appeal of the EPO, the recording of the transfer of a European patent played an important role in the admissibility of the appeal.
Continue readingSince the start of the BEST programme (Bringing Examination and Search Together) oral proceedings in examination and opposition can be held both in The Hague and in Munich, whereas formerly these proceedings could only be performed in Munich.
Continue readingWhat is an embryo? Advocate General M. Yves Bot has provided his opinion on this in case C-34/10 (Brüstle v Greenpeace).
Continue readingAt the request of LG Electronics, a court in the Netherlands has granted an order to seize all Sony Playstations 3 (PS3) in the Netherlands, because they contain a Blu-Ray player covered by LG patents.
Continue readingIn T1544/07 one of the opponents filed an appeal against the decision of the Opposition Division to maintain the opposed patent in amended form.
Continue readingSince the early 90s many discussions have focused on the possibility of a national judge issuing injunctions for infringement in another country, the so-called cross-border injunctions.
Continue readingIn its decision of November 2, 2010, the Court of The Hague overturned a decision of first instance.
Continue readingPatent litigation is often conducted in multiple jurisdictions and in multiple countries. As the outcome of the first lawsuit may have a substantial or even decisive impact on subsequent litigation elsewhere, an early win can be crucial.
Continue readingIt is established practice that for judging the inventive step of the invention claimed, the problem-solution approach as developed within the European patent office is used.
Continue readingThe patent system has been developed to reward inventors for their invention, and publication thereof, with a temporary monopoly on the commercialization of their invention.
Continue readingOver the last couple of years, plant breeders have become increasingly aware of patent rights on plants.
Continue readingOn 1 December 2008, Australia signed a wine trade agreement with the European Union to comply with the geographical indicator (GI) system of the EU. This agreement entered into force on 1 September 2010.
Continue readingIn 2004, the trademark opposition procedure was introduced in Benelux. Now, six years and over 470 (appeal) decisions later, it might be useful to consider some do"s and don"ts.
Continue readingIn its decision G1/07 (Medi-Physics), the Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office (EPO) has ruled that current patent office practice on exclusion of methods of medical treatment from patentability has been too restrictive.
Continue readingIn the case C-428/08, the Advocate-General of the European Court of Justice recently issued his conclusion.
Continue readingIn its opinion G3/08, the Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office (EPO) declined to answer questions referred to it by the President of the EPO about the patentability of computer-implemented inventions (CII).
Continue readingRecently, the Enlarged Board of Appeal, in case G 2/08,issued a decision on the patentability of a method for therapy in which the new and inventive feature was a new dose regimen for an already known drug and medical indication.
Continue readingIn an opposition procedure before the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP) in January 2010, it was held that the use of a Community trademark (CTM) in the Netherlands only is not sufficient to conclude that the CTM has been genuinely used.
Continue readingThe EPO Enlarged Board of Appeal has decided that it is not possible to file a translation of the application into one of the two other official languages when entering the European regional phase.
Continue readingOn 24 June, VEREENIGDE will be presented a prestigious award in London: The Netherlands Prosecution IP Firm of the Year Award 2010.
Continue readingFurther to our news item of 16 December 2009, the United States Patent and Trademark Office has lifted certain restrictions on the subject matter required for expedited examination of green technology patent applications.
Continue readingPart C of the EPO"s Guidelines for Examination published on April 1 now states that, as a matter of principle, disclosures on the Internet form part of the state of the art for evaluating novelty and inventive step.
Continue readingAccelerated examination is now available for at least 3,000 U.S. patent applications claiming "green technology" under a pilot program announced on 7 December 2009.
Continue readingOn 1 April 2010, new EPO rules for divisional applications will enter into force. The new rules introduce a new time limit for filing divisional applications.
Continue readingIn addition to the rule changes concerning divisional applications, which changes are explained in the news item "New EPO rules for divisional applications", further miscellaneous rules changes also will come into effect on 1 April 2010.
Continue readingThe EPO will not grant patents for human embryo stem cells that require the destruction of the embryo.
Continue readingIn filing trademark applications in general, the scope of protection ultimately obtained is generally determined by the designated goods and services.
Continue readingIn 2010 it will be 100 years ago that the Netherlands revived its patent system in a modern form.
Continue reading"Alternative energy", "clean tech", "green", and sustainable" are not only buzzwords - these terms now refer to activities that, if they are not already big business, they soon will be.
Continue readingIn their October 2009 issue, Managing Intellectual Property (MIP) ranks patent firms by the number of international patent (PCT) applications filed.
Continue readingAs of 1 January 2010, the Dutch corporate tax rate on gains realized from the exploitation of know-how developed in-house will be reduced to just 5%.
Continue readingRuling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on prejudicial questions.
Continue readingDecision by the Court in The Hague in an application for temporary injunction.
Continue readingThe European Patent Office (EPO) has announced new rules for divisional applications entering into force on April 1, 2010 that set a time limit for the filing of divisional applications.
Continue readingIn a recently published appeal case before the Amsterdam Court of Appeal (1), the court considered the implications of an exclusive distribution agreement on know-how protection.
Continue readingOn Tuesday 31 March 2009, an international UN conference on Afghanistan wll be held in the World Forum Convention Center in The Hague.
Continue readingAs of 1 March 2009, Michiel J.A. Haegens will be Head of the trademark section of VEREENIGDE.
Continue readingAll designs first published within the European Union can, in principle, enjoy a 3 year term of protection as an Unregistered Community Design (UCD).
Continue readingIn view of the coming public holidays, all offices of VEREENIGDE shall be closed on several days.
Continue readingThe district court of The Hague has decided that the new European Patent convention (EPC 2000) means that patentees have the right to limit claims with fewer obstacles than have been imposed by Dutch courts in the past.
Continue readingUntil recently, someone seeking a U.S. patent could not speed up the patenting process by a simple request. One had to show that there were special circumstances.
Continue readingRecently, BMM (Benelux Association for Trademark and Design Right) has introduced the BMM certification mark.
Continue readingOn 3 July 2007, the Dutch parliament (House of Representatives) approved changes to the Netherlands Patent Act ("Rijksoctrooiwet 1995"). It has now been officially communicated that new patent act will enter into force on 5 June 2008.
Continue readingThe changes in the European Patent Convention, generally known under the name EPC2000, will enter into force on 13 December 2007.
Continue readingAs mentioned in our newsletter of June 2006, the EPC2000 will enter into force on 13 December 2007.
Continue readingFrance has recently ratified the London Protocol. As a result, the protocol will finally come into force soon, probably in the spring of 2008.
Continue readingAn interesting proposal for low-cost validity analysis during the priority year
Continue readingIn 2004, a trademark opposition procedure was introduced in Benelux. Now, 3.5 years later, a large number of opposition proceedings are pending and a number of opposition decisions have been issued.
Continue readingThe Groningen office of VEREENIGDE is relocating as of 7 December 2007 to a location slightly further up the road.
Continue readingOn 3 July 2007 the Dutch parliament (House of Representatives) approved of changes to the Netherlands patent act ("Rijksoctrooiwet 1995"). It is expected that the new patent act will enter into force by the beginning of 2008.
Continue readingA medicine may be placed on the market only when a special authorization to do so has been granted. To obtain such authorization, it is required to test the medicine clinically.
Continue readingIn determining the scope of protection of a patent, the meaning of the claims of the published patent must be considered.
Continue readingOn 26 January 2007 new Regulation (EC) No. 1901/2006 will enter into force.
Continue readingSince August 2006, Vereenigde has an office on the High Tech Campus Eindhoven.
Continue readingWith effect from August 1, 2006, the requirement that the Dutch translations of European patents be certified by a patent attorney will be abolished. Nonetheless, the quality of the translation continues to be of importance for the scope of protection.
Continue readingIn 2000, a diplomatic conference was held in Munich to revise the European Patent Convention (EPC), which was drafted in 1973 and has been in force ever since the EPO began.
Continue readingAccording to Article 52(4) of the European Patent Convention (EPC) diagnostic methods practised on the human or animal body are not regarded as inventions which are susceptible of industrial application within the meaning of Article 52(1) EPC.
Continue readingSeveral referrals have recently been made to the Enlarged Board of Appeal (the highest instance within the European Patent Office) concerning divisional applications.
Continue readingAs of 1 March 2006, the partnership Vereenigde Octrooibureaux has elected Frans A. Dietz as its new chairman.
Continue reading