Searching Biotechnological Inventions under the EPC 

Workshop presented by: 

Dr. Klaus-Peter Dopfer
Director Directorate 1412 | Dir. 1.4.12
Biotechnology
European Patent Office

Abstract: The workshop  will be providing a comprehensive overview how examiners at the European Patent Office are performing searches in the field of Biotechnology. Focus is put on the legal framework of the EPC (and the PCT) and its influence on the development of the search strategy (use of different search tools available at the EPO, classification etc.). Furthermore, the attendees of the workshop will get information how examiners deal with problems with unclear claims, extremely broad claims, lack of unity of the invention, problems with subject-matter which is not patentable under the EPC und to which extent this influences the scope of the search. The influence of the search results on the further examination (prosecution/opposition) will be discussed.

Registration: Free, Required