The scope of protection of DNA claims insofar as they protect material incorporating a DNA that is not able to perform the function for which it was patented has been decided in a recent ECJ Judgment.

Decisions G1/04 and G1/07 address the extent to which a diagnostic method and a method involving an invasive intervention on the body are excluded from patentability under the EPC.

Restricted timeframe of 24 months for filing European divisional patent applications from 1st April 2010.

G2/08, handed down by the Enlarged Board on 19th February 2010, confirms that inventions solely distinguished by a dosage regime may be patented in Europe.

From 1st April 2010, the European Search Report will be limited to a single independent claim in each category.

It is possible to request an accelerated examination of a UK trade mark application. The sole exception to this is applications for a 'series' of trade marks for which no accelerated examination may be requested.

The Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office has handed down an important decision clarifying the requirements for filing a valid divisional application in the European Patent Office.

The revised European Patent Convention came into force on 13th December 2007. This briefing note highlights the key changes in the Convention and discusses best practice under the revised provisions.

Since 1st April 2010, applicants have had to be immediately ready to respond to the international preliminary report on patentability (IPRP) on European regional phase entry if the EPO acted as International Searching Authority.

The first phase of the changes to official EPO fees was introduced on 1st April 2008. The second phase took effect on 1st April 2009.

Regulation 1901/2006 provides valuable incentives, including six-month SPC term extensions, to reward pharmaceutical companies for meeting various requirements.

Patents for software and business methods have been a contentious topic of discussion amongst patent practitioners in Europe for a long time. This briefing note aims to explain the current situation and resolve common misconceptions.