Patents

Patent-intensive industries account for 16.1% of the EU GDP and and employ directly 23,571,234 million jobs (10.9% of all jobs in the EU). (Source: EUIPO/EPO)

A well-functioning patent system is essential for Europe’s competitiveness, innovation and job creation. Companies that seek to protect their innovations currently in Europe with a patent can either opt to do so only in one national market or designate a number of European markets through a common procedure managed by the European Patent Office in Munich. Going for more than one market means: extra translation costs, lawyer fees, additional administrative procedures and costs.

BusinessEurope considers the current European Patent Convention (EPC) system as the best option to promote the legitimate interest of innovative industries to protect their investments in valuable technical ideas. The EPC system and its high-level standards should therefore be guaranteed and promoted both in Europe and abroad. In no way these regulations and standards should be lowered or given up for the sake of trade negotiations.

Publications

Position papers Date
Draft agreement on cross-border aspects of client-patent attorney privilege - BusinessEurope comments 17/11/2022
Compulsory licensing in the European Union - BusinessEurope comments on the public consultation 27/09/2022
European business community urges for the rapid ratification and entry into force of the Unitary Patent System 12/10/2021
EPO consultation on an amendment to the rules of procedure of the Boards of Appeal regarding oral proceedings by videoconference - BUSINESSEUROPE comments 27/11/2020
European business community calls for the rapid ratification and entry into operation of the European patent system - Joint statement by BUSINESSEUROPE, EUROCHAMBRES, orgalim and SMEunited 16/07/2020
The rapid entry into operation of the Unitary Patent system is key for Europe 22/04/2020
European business urges for the rapid entry into force of the Unitary Patent System 18/02/2020
Commission proposal on a supplementary protection certificate (SPC) manufacturing waiver for export purposes - BusinessEurope comments 15/01/2019
EPO consultation on user-driven early certainty (UDEC) proposal - BusinessEurope comments 08/02/2018
Supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) and patent research exemptions - BusinessEurope feedback to the European Commission public consultation 15/01/2018
BusinessEurope comments on consultation on IP5 patent practices 15/09/2015
Technical note on the allocation of the administrative costs related to the European patent with unitary effect 01/09/2015
Unified Patent Court (UPC) fees and recoverable costs - BusinessEurope response to public consultation 31/07/2015
BusinessEurope response to EPO user consultation on reform of the boards of appeal 30/06/2015
Further submission from BusinessEurope on the level of fees for the European patent with unitary effect 01/12/2014
BusinessEurope's views and proposal on renewal fees for the European patent with unitary effect (EPUE) 06/10/2014
BusinessEurope comments on public consultation regarding European Patent Litigation Certificate 24/07/2014
BusinessEurope comments to draft rules relating to Unitary Patent protection 06/12/2013
BusinessEurope comments to the draft Rules of Procedure for the Unified Patent Court 05/11/2013
BusinessEurope comments on the draft rules relating to Unitary Patent protection - SACEPO WPR 10/13 of 28.06.2013 03/09/2013
European observatory on infringements of intellectual property rights - BusinessEurope response to OHIM consultation 06/07/2012
Public letters Date
EPO oral proceedings by videoconference - Letter from T.Sueur to António Campinos, President of the European Patent Office 14/04/2020
BusinessEurope submissions to the SACEPO working party on rules 18/12/2015
EPO proposals on the renewal fees of the Unitary Patent - Letter from Markus J. Beyrer to Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska 11/03/2015
Proposals by the European Patent Office on renewal fees: BusinessEurope reaction - Letter from Jérôme P. Chauvin to Jérôme Debrulle, Chairman of the EPO Select Committee 11/03/2015
Making global dossier a high priority - Joint letter from industry associations to IP5 office heads 01/03/2013

Upcoming Events

14
Jun

The fifth edition of the International IP Enforcement Summit, hosted by the European Commission, the EUIPO and the Patent Office of Bulgaria in Sofia, will unite key European and international decision-makers, law enforcement authorities, multinational companies and other stakeholders....

Last updated: 3 December 2019