Drafting for the EPO - Building Strong Patent Specifications

Introduction

Secure stronger protection across Europe before prosecution even begins.

A European patent can unlock protection in some of the world's most valuable markets, including the option of a unitary patent covering 18 EU member states through a single right. But securing that protection is far from straightforward. The European Patent Office applies some of the world's most rigorous patentability standards, with particular scrutiny on added matter, sufficiency and formal requirements.

The strength of your European patent often depends on the quality of the specification filed at the outset. A well-drafted specification with robust support, sufficient technical detail and carefully considered fallback positions can make the difference between a smooth prosecution and costly objections, or even challenges during post-grant Opposition proceedings. Investing time in getting the drafting right from the beginning can save significant time, expense and uncertainty later.

Register for this new virtual classroom seminar today to learn practical, proven techniques for drafting patent specifications that stand up to European scrutiny. Through worked examples and analysis of key EPO case law, you will examine the issues that commonly arise during prosecution and Opposition and learn how to anticipate them during drafting. You will leave with actionable strategies to prepare stronger, more resilient patent specifications for Europe from day one.

What You Will Learn

This live and interactive course will cover the following:

• Drafting an effective introduction that provides a strong foundation for the application
• Framing clear and well-supported statements of the invention
• Defining key terms to improve clarity and minimise ambiguity
• Drafting detailed embodiments to maximise support and flexibility
• Using examples effectively to strengthen disclosure and sufficiency
• Understanding European claim format and structure
• Drafting claims that satisfy EPO requirements for clarity and sufficiency
• Making effective use of dependent claims to provide valuable fallback positions
• Navigating specific claim types and formats accepted by the EPO
• Preparing specifications that support future amendments and corrections
• Drafting applications containing multiple inventions while preserving options for future divisional filings

Recording of live sessions: Soon after the Learn Live session has taken place you will be able to go back and access the recording - should you wish to revisit the material discussed.