Dossiers

COVID-19 updates

On this page you will find our news items about the state of affairs at V.O. concerning the COVID-19 virus.

A new European Patent System

For some time, a new European Patent System is being developed that should offer a simple alternative to the current validation process while simplifying the judicial process regarding patents within Europe. The two elements, the European patent with unitary effect and the patent court, are often referred to as Unitary Patent (UP) and Unified Patent Court (UPC) respectively. Continue reading

The impact of Brexit on IP rights

With the completion of the Brexit, the United Kingdom has left the European Union. This also has implications for IP rights. Continue reading

The Nagoya Protocol and its impact on your research

The Nagoya Protocol is often believed to apply exclusively to the plant breeding sector. However, the influence of the protocol reaches much further. Almost everyone utilizing genetic resources for research may have to deal with it. From individuals and universities to multinationals in all sectors, everyone needs to check whether their research is covered by the protocol. Continue reading