Description
When drafting U.S. patent applications, counsel's initial focus is generally to position it for success in the USPTO. Many patent holders also want international patent protection and failing to consider other legal standards can prove detrimental to achieving that end. This program will compare and contrast specific USPTO and EPO legal standards.
Differences between the U.S. and European systems include standards for priority, amendments, obviousness, enablement, and written description. As a result, any misunderstanding of these differences when drafting the U.S.-origin application can negatively impact prosecution opportunities in Europe.
Patent counsel's planning for European patent requirements during the USPTO process in anticipation of global protection will reduce costs and can overcome many obstacles presented by Europe's different approach to granting patent protection.
Listen as our authoritative panel of U.S. and European patent counsel discusses the principal considerations for drafting U.S. patent applications to maximize prosecution opportunities in Europe and examines essential differences between the USPTO and EPO approaches. The panel will offer best practices for U.S. patent application drafters to protect inventions in Europe without sacrificing U.S. strategy--and vice versa.
Presented By
Ms. McNeill offers intellectual property strategy and advises on new application preparation, patent prosecution (U.S. and foreign), and preparation and negotiation of IP transactions, and provides the full scope of counseling services. She has a special interest in counseling clients on patent application filing and developing worldwide prosecution strategies in concert with clients’ business goals. She has managed and directed the U.S. and international patent portfolios for U.S. clients and has overseen the U.S. patent portfolio for international clients in Europe and Asia.
Mr. Nørgaard counsels on all areas of life science and medical technology including anything from genetics and molecular biology to drugs, diagnostics, analytical equipment, medical equipment, and greentech. He counsels on IPR strategy, IPR organization and management of companies, business development, license agreements, freedom-to-operate, validity of patents, oppositions and appeals before the EPO (European Patent Office), in addition to drafting and prosecution of patent applications. He also serves as a technical judge in Norway. Since 2015 he has served as Chairman of the Board at HØIBERG.
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This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.
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Date + Time
- event
Monday, April 14, 2025
- schedule
1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT
- The EPO takes a literal approach to read all documents
- Drafting applications with an eye to potential future amendments
- Priority
- Novelty
- Inventive step
- Enablement
- Methods of treatment and diagnostic uses
- The EPC and the Unitary Patent
The panel will review these and other high priority issues:
- What are the considerations for patent counsel drafting U.S. applications when global patent protection is anticipated or desired?
- What are the significant differences between the U.S. and European approaches to patent applications?
- What steps should counsel take when drafting U.S. patent applications to maximize protection in Europe?
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