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3 rd Intn'l Discussion on
Responsible Research in Nanotechnology
Brussels, 11-12 March 2008
Nanotechnology at the
European Patent Office
Dr. Ir. Yves Verbandt, European Patent Office
European Patent Office
European Patent Convention (EPC)
– Established a system of law for the grant of European patents
– European patents have the effect and are subject to the same
conditions as a national patent
30+ contracting states (incl. Croatia, Norway, Turkey, ...)
Unitary protection standards in the contracting states
– One application, one language
– “A la carte” market by designation of countries
Costs less than three separate national patents
Strong
– Thorough search: patent documents and other available knowledge
– Substantive examination = sound legal protection
3rd Int'l Dialogue on Responsible R&D of Nanotech
165
Outline
• Brief presentation European Patent Office
What is nanotechnology?
Challenges for the EPO
Legal issues
3rd Int'l Dialogue on Responsible R&D of Nanotech
International Patent Classification (IPC)
Narrow definition
Patent Offices:
B82 Nanotechnology
=Nanostructures & Manufacture
Nano-structure" is an atomically
precise arrangement of matter
which:
(i) is formed solely from an
atom, a molecule or an
extremely limited collection of
atoms or molecules …;
(ii) has been formed by having
its atoms or molecules
individually manipulated as
discrete units during its
manufacture
3rd Int'l Dialogue on Responsible R&D of Nanotech