EPO President Outlines Progress On Patent Reform

by Ulrika Lomas, for LawAndTax-News.com, Brussels

05 January 2007

In view of the ongoing discussion regarding the reform of the patent system in Europe, European Patent Office (EPO) President Alain Pompidou late last month briefed the press on progress made in this area.

Professor Pompidou explained that the EPO supports a unitary Community Patent covering the whole EU, and argued that improvements to the existing patent system were within reach with The London Agreement and the EPLA, as they stood for lower costs and more legal security based on a harmonised patent litigation system for Europe.

Although doubt has been expressed as to whether the two initiatives are likely be realised soon, the EPO chief argued that a breakthrough was within reach, as seven out of the necessary eight countries had already ratified the London Agreement. If France was to sign, too, a quick reduction of translation costs by 45% is realistic.

He went on to reveal that favourable signals from the constitutional court in France, the Sénat and the Assemblée Nationale as well as a number of declarations, reports and recommendations strongly advocate a ratification by France.

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