GENERAL INTRODUCTION THE PATENT SYSTEM

General Introduction of the Patent system: From Idea to Grant What is an invention Who is an inventor Means of protection Procedural phases up to grant General grant proceure at IPO Where to file Filing strategy

What is an invention Creative achievement that enables a concrete and technical solution to a given technical problem An invention may be in any field of technology, provided it is new, involve an inventive step (non-obvious) and is susceptible of industrial application

What is an invention Patentable inventions in the area of life science, for example: Proteins and nucleic acids (DNA/ RNA) incl. their use(s), e.g., enzymes having useful functions Chemical compounds incl. their medical or non-medical use(s), e.g., compounds acting as agonists or antagonis on certain disease related receptors Genetically modified (micro)organisms incl. methods of productions, e.g., an genetically modified mosquito which, when released into the wild, mates with female mosquitoes to produce sterile progeny Genetically modified plants, altered to carry a new characteristic, such as resistance to pests or droughts, or enhanced yield Diagnostic kits and methods, e.g., gene-based breast cancer test

What is not an invention Not regarded as inventions are creative achievments which are either of abstract or non-technical nature, such as: (a) discoveries, scientific theories and mathematical methods (b) aesthetic creations and presentations of information (c) schemes, rules and methods for performing mental acts, playing games or doing business, and programs for computers Exception to c): in US are business methods are patentable inventions

Who is an inventor No universal criteria for the determination of inventorship, rather inventorship is defined by national legislation in each country under consideration. In the case inventions are made in the course of employment, inventorship from a European perspective is generally determined by the legislation of the country of business of the employer In some jurisdictions the question of inventorship may not necessarily be determined on the basis of the national legislation of the country of business of the employer, but on the national legislation in the country for which a (national) patent application has been filed (e.g., in US)

Who is an inventor Generally speaking: An inventor is a natural person who has made an independent, intellectual contribution directed at the invention This can be anyone who: (a) Conceived the initial idea(s) which define the research led to the invention (b) Actually devised the experiments or products which form the basis of the application (c) Carried out any experiments or other processes which required that person to show initiative to conceive and/or complete the invention (d) Interpreted the data and recognized the significance of results

Who is an inventor This will not include anyone who: (a) Simply carried out work under instruction (regardless of how much skill and effort this took) (b) Had no part in the research (regardless of whether or not they funded it, were associated with it, owned the facilities which were used in the research , contibuted very general work or assistance) (c) Was a project manager or supervisor but did not contibuted technically to actual invention Inventorship and authorship are not the same: co-authors may not necessarily be co-inventors

Means of protection There are generally two intellectual property rights protecting inventions: patents and utility models Patents: - for any kind of invention - examined right - 20 years of life time (as of the filing date) Utility model (e.g., in DE, CN): - for any kind of invention, except methods and non-medical uses - unexamined right - 10 years of life time (as of filing date)

Procedural phases up to grant Drafting application Pre-drafting Drafting Filing Prosecution Grant Invention disclosure Defining subject matter Novelty Search Filing application with selected Intellectual Property Office Formal and substantitve examination of application by IPO

General Grant Proceure at IPO Filing Receiving Search Examination Grant Application is filed with the IPO Application is received, processed and examined as to formal requirements Prior art search and drawing up Search Report incl. Written Opinion Substantive examination of application

Where to file Patent applications can be filed with: a) National Patent Offices such as - Slovenian Intellectual Patent Office (SIPO) - German Patent- and Trademark Office (DPMA) - Institute of Intellectual property Luxembourg (IPIL) b) Supranational patent organisations such as - European Patent Office (EPO) - International Bureau (IB)

Filing strategy 0 months 12 months 18 months 22 months 30 months Claim priority of first application Publication of application File first (national) application National prosecution e.g. in SI, DE, LU, EP File second (national) application National prosecution e.g. in EP, US, JP, CN, KR Chap I PCT Enter national phase in e.g. in EP, US, JP, CN, KR File PCT application Chap II PCT Internationl Preliminary Examination Request for International Preliminary Examination Search Report

Thank you for your attention Dr. Carsten Prusko / Dr. Hajo Peters cpu@zacco.com / hpe@zacco.com