How to understand EPO search reports and written opinions - epi

Mr Gunnar SchröderExaminer in the field of chemistryEuropean Patent Office, Berlin Sub-officeMr Gunnar Schröder graduated in 1999 from the TechnicalUniversity of Berlin, Germany. He worked for several yearsas a researcher at the Max-Planck-Institute in Berlin and atthe University of Basel, Switzerland. In 2007, he joined theEuropean Patent Office in Berlin as an examiner in the field ofchemistry, in particular biotechnology and fermentation.Mr Schröder has been responsible for classification, trainingand knowledge transfer in his field and has recently started toget involved in giving workshops and seminars in the frame ofthe European Patent Academy.Mr Michael StandringExaminer in the field of motor vehicle technologyEuropean Patent Office, Berlin Sub-officeMr Standring worked for Mather and Platt in Manchesterbefore studying Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College,London from 1980 to 1984. In 1984 he joined the EuropeanPatent Office in Berlin as an examiner in the field of motorvehicle technology.Mr Standring is an experienced examiner in all aspectsof examination and opposition. He has given multiplepresentations for open days, workshops and seminarsthroughout the EPO, for both colleagues and for externaltrainees.3

Wednesday, 19 June 2013Room “Maurice Saltiel Hall”09.00 RegistrationChristine Bruyen, European Patent Academy,European Patent Office, Munich09.30 WelcomeStratos Koutivas, Head of Search Directorate,Hellenic Industrial Property OrganisationRonald Haffner, Examiner, European Patent Office,Berlin sub-office10.00 Patent language and procedures– Patent protection and claims– Basics terms in the patent world, their meaningand use– Patent procedure under the EPC (EuropeanPatent Convention)– Patent procedure under the PCT (PatentCooperation Treaty)Gunnar Schröder, Examiner, European Patent Office,Berlin sub-office11.20 Coffee breakin the foyer in front of room “Maurice Saltiel Hall”11.40 European search opinion (EPC) and written opinion(PCT)– Legal basis and structure– Prior art documents– Novelty and inventive stepMichael Standring, Examiner, European PatentOffice, Berlin sub-office12.50 Lunch breakat Concert Hall restaurant4

14.00 Structure of a search report– Citations and their categories– Additional information in the report– Practical exercise: how to set up a search report?Winfried Hylla, Examiner, European Patent Office,Berlin sub-office15.00 Coffee breakin the foyer in front of room “Maurice Saltiel Hall”15.20 Particular cases of search reports– Different reasons for non-standard search reports– Effects on the procedureRonald Haffner, Examiner, European Patent Office,Berlin sub-office16.30 Questions and answersAny questions on EPO search reports and writtenopinions will be answered by a panel of expertsMichael Standring, Gunnar Schröder, Winfried Hylla,Ronald Haffner16.45 End of lectures17.00 Leave by bus to Science Center and TechnologyMuseum “NOESIS”17.30 Networking cocktailGuided tours of the exhibition of the NoesisMuseum20.30 Return by bus to Concert Hall5

Thursday, 20 June 2013Rooms “Maurice Saltiel Hall” (Flat Hall),“Conference room 1”, “Conference room 2”09.00 Technical workshops – Novelty– Exemplary case of a lack-of-novelty objection– Exercise: analysis of claims for noveltyWorkshop “Chemistry”Gunnar Schröder, Examiner, European Patent Office,Berlin sub-officeWorkshop “Electricity-Physics”Winfried Hylla, Examiner, European Patent Office,Berlin sub-officeWorkshop “Mechanics”Michael Standring, Examiner, European PatentOffice, Berlin sub-office10.30 Coffee breakin the foyer in front of room “Maurice Saltiel Hall”10.45 Technical workshops – Novelty (continued)12.30 Lunch breakat Concert Hall restaurant6

Rooms “Maurice Saltiel Hall” (Flat Hall),“Conference room 1”, “Conference room 2”13.30 Technical workshops – Inventive step– Exemplary case of a lack-of-inventive-stepobjection– Exercise: analysis of claims for inventive stepWorkshop “Chemistry”Gunnar Schröder, Examiner, European Patent Office,Berlin sub-officeWorkshop “Electricity-Physics”Winfried Hylla, Examiner, European Patent Office,Berlin sub-officeWorkshop “Mechanics”Michael Standring, Examiner, European PatentOffice, Berlin sub-office15.00 Coffee breakin the foyer in front of room “Maurice Saltiel Hall”15.15 Technical workshops – Inventive step (continued)16.45 End of the seminar day20.00 Seminar dinner downtown Thessaloniki7

Friday, 21 June 2013Rooms “Maurice Saltiel Hall” (Flat Hall),“Conference room 1”, “Conference room 2”09.00 Technical workshops – ClarityClarity objections, exercisesWorkshop “Chemistry”Gunnar Schröder, Examiner, European Patent Office,Berlin sub-officeWorkshop “Electricity-Physics”Winfried Hylla, Examiner, European Patent Office,Berlin sub-officeWorkshop “Mechanics”Michael Standring, Examiner, European PatentOffice, Berlin sub-office11.00 Coffee breakin the foyer in front of room “Maurice Saltiel Hall”11.15 Technical workshops – UnityUnity objections, exercisesWorkshop “Chemistry”Gunnar Schröder, Examiner, European Patent Office,Berlin sub-officeWorkshop “Electricity-Physics”Winfried Hylla, Examiner, European Patent Office,Berlin sub-officeWorkshop “Mechanics”Michael Standring, Examiner, European PatentOffice, Berlin sub-office8

12.15 Lunch breakat Concert Hall restaurant13.30 Technical workshops – Unity (continued)14:30 Coffee breakin the foyer in front of room “Maurice Saltiel Hall”Room “Maurice Saltiel Hall” (Flat Hall)14.50 Questions and answersFeedback sessionGunnar Schröder, Examiner, European Patent Office,Berlin sub-officeMichael Standring, Examiner, European PatentOffice, Berlin sub-officeWinfried Hylla, Examiner, European Patent Office,Berlin sub-officeRonald Haffner, Examiner, European Patent Office,Berlin sub-officeChristine Bruyen, European Patent Academy,European Patent Office, Munich15:10 Closing of seminar, awarding of certificatesStratos Koutivas, Head of Search Directorate,Hellenic Industrial Property OrganisationRonald Haffner, Examiner, European Patent Office,Berlin sub-office15.30 End of seminar9

VenueThessaloniki Concert HallConvention & Cultural Center25th Martiou and Paralia str.54646 ThessalonikiGreeceSeminar referenceOC09-2013For further information please contactChristine BruyenTel. +49 89 2399 5233cbruyen@epo.orgEuropean Patent AcademyEuropean Patent OfficeErhardtstr. 2780469 MunichGermanyTel. +49 89 2399 5454academy@epo.orgwww.epo.orgwww.epo.org/learning