It is always a pleasant change of pace to report government doing something good that actually improves efficiency in IP protection.
The EU is finally consolidating the EU patent office into a single organization (Brussels?) where inventors can file once and win IP protection in something like 25 euro zone countries. The article didn't say how they will deal with languages, but I am guessing submission in say German, English, French, while they may need to come up with a single simplified/standardized vocabulary of words allowed in claims to facilitate automatic translation between languages.
So far I don't think Italy and Spain have signed on, but this is a huge cost reduction for filers who now have to deal with all languages, and prosecute patent interference in each country individually. Something like 6k euros to file vs 36k euros before.
This sounds like a good thing for inventors and innovation...
JR
The EU is finally consolidating the EU patent office into a single organization (Brussels?) where inventors can file once and win IP protection in something like 25 euro zone countries. The article didn't say how they will deal with languages, but I am guessing submission in say German, English, French, while they may need to come up with a single simplified/standardized vocabulary of words allowed in claims to facilitate automatic translation between languages.
So far I don't think Italy and Spain have signed on, but this is a huge cost reduction for filers who now have to deal with all languages, and prosecute patent interference in each country individually. Something like 6k euros to file vs 36k euros before.
This sounds like a good thing for inventors and innovation...
JR
