1. the Case in Favour of Prosecution History Estoppel EPLAW Annual Meeting & Congress, Brussels, 2 December 2011 Jean-Christophe Troussel Bird & Bird Brussels

2. Page 2 © Bird & Bird LLP 2011 USEFUL INTERPRETATION TOOL (1) « FREE CAR WASH WITH GAS » « MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE WORDED IT DIFFERENTLY »

3. Page 3 © Bird & Bird LLP 2011 USEFUL INTERPRETATION TOOL (2) A « mind willing to understand » wants to use that tool objective information from a person skilled in the art Useful to clarify ambiguous wording Example: essential feature « SO YOU SEE YOUR HONOUR, IT’S OBVIOUS »

4. Page 4 © Bird & Bird LLP 2011 ARTICLE 69 & PROTOCOL Munich Convention 2000: PHE not included into the EPC => no obligation No exclusion / prohibition either Article 69 not exhaustive Equivalents were used before they were included in the Protocol – Why a different regime for PHE? Conclusion : issue of national law

5. Page 5 © Bird & Bird LLP 2011 GOOD FAITH–FAIR PROTECTION (1) « nemo potest venire contra factum proprium » Consistent behaviour of the patentee during patent application and during validity or infringement proceedings Integrity of patent office review

6. Page 6 © Bird & Bird LLP 2011 GOOD FAITH–FAIR PROTECTION (2) Clear surrender? Statement unambiguously narrowing the scope of protection? Determinative for the patent grant? Implemented in the wording of the claim/description?

7. Page 7 © Bird & Bird LLP 2011 PREDICTABILITY & LEGAL CERTAINTY Reduces the uncertainty which is inherent in equivalents analysis Proper counter-balance to equivalents File is publicly available Third parties do rely on it as a source of information

8. Page 8 © Bird & Bird LLP 2011 AVOID OVERLY BROAD CLAIMS Induces applicants to avoid overly broad claims Induces applicants to apply for the right claims right from the start

9. Page 9 © Bird & Bird LLP 2011 USE OF STATEMENTS MADE ABROAD? In prosecution of parallel patents? In other parallel court cases?

10. Thank you Jean-Christophe Troussel Partner Bird & Bird Avenue Louise 235 box 1 1050 Brussels Tel: +32 (0) 2 282 60 17 Fax: +32 (0) 282 60 11 jtr@twobirds.com Bird & Bird is an international legal practice comprising Bird & Bird LLP and its affiliated businesses. www.twobirds.com