Understanding patents,
easily (or not)

Patents in France

Let’s dive right in: in this guide, we will explore how to obtain a patent in France, how to avoid having it invalidated before French courts (or, conversely, how to invalidate your competitors’ patents), and how to use it to prevent any infringement.

We hope you enjoy reading our guide on « Patents in France ».

Here are some useful links:

• The Intellectual Property Code (or CPI);
• The patent case law search database of the INPI.

Happy browsing!

Brevets unitaires

Les brevets unitaires ne sont plus une perspective lointaine : le système est entré en vigueur le 1^er juin 2023. Cette section du blog leur est consacrée.

Voici quelques documents de référence qui vous seront utiles :

• L’Accord sur la Juridiction unifiée du brevet ;
• Le règlement de procédure de la Juridiction unifiée du brevet (texte définitif, en vigueur depuis le 1^er septembre 2022) ;
• Les textes relatifs à la protection unitaire (règlements 1257/2012 et 1260/2012, règles UPR) sur le site de l’OEB.

Bonne navigation !

PCT Applications

Let’s open a new file: PCT applications.

The Patent Cooperation Treaty, or PCT, is an attempt to simplify patent filing procedures, particularly when the applicant wishes to obtain a patent in numerous countries.

Through a so-called ‘PCT’ application, a single filing serves as a filing in all countries.

This system does not, as such, grant a patent: only the initial stages of the procedure are carried out at the international level, while grant remains within the national or regional jurisdiction of each state.

Here are two resources that will be invaluable as you read further:

• The Patent Cooperation Treaty.
• The Regulations under the PCT. This document is akin to implementing regulations (if we were to draw a parallel with French law).

Happy reading!

Patents in Europe

The patent mechanisms in Europe are quite complex and need to be explained to be properly understood.

That is my (humble) goal!

I wish you an excellent read of the dossier « Patents in Europe« .

I will immediately point you to certain resources that will be of great help as you read through:

• The European Patent Convention (or EPC).
  • This convention was extensively updated in 2007 to comply, in particular, with another treaty, the PLT (and a significant renumbering of the articles was carried out).
  • In addition, minor updates are made regularly: the last one dates from 2013.
• The Implementing Regulations to the EPC.
  • This document is a kind of implementing decree (if we were to draw a parallel with French law);
• The Rules relating to Fees (or RF) (OJ 3/2012, RF supplement);
• The « Schedule of fees and official fees of the EPO (applicable from 1 April 2012)« , (OJ 3/2012, BTR supplement);
• The Transitional Provisions related to the introduction of the EPC 2000;
• The Guidelines for Examination practiced at the European Patent Office;
• The Rules of Procedure of the Boards of Appeal (OJ 1/2013, RPBA supplement);
• The Rules of Procedure of the Enlarged Board of Appeal (OJ 1/2013, RPEBA supplement);
• The « Regulations on Current Accounts » (or RCC) and « Regulations on the Automatic Debiting Procedure » (or ADP) (OJ 3/2015, supplementary publication);
• The latest WIPO-EPO agreement concerning the EPO as ISA, SISA, IPEA (OJ 2010, 304);
• The national laws relating to the EPC.

Happy browsing!