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OEB Newsfeed

1. EPO’s Annual Review 2019 published: progress made on strategic plan

   Published in a new format and replacing the former Annual Report, the review outlines the main achievements and activities carried out under each of the five goals of the Office's Strategic Plan 2023, adopted in June 2019.

2. Joint statement of EPO and CNIPA on response to COVID-19

   The European Patent Office (EPO) and the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) stand in full solidarity with all those affected by COVID-19.

3. Fighting coronavirus – EPO supports researchers with patent information

   The EPO has published the first two parts of a series of resources designed to help researchers and decision-makers benefit from patent information in their fight against coronavirus.

4. Engaging with users on the EPO Guidelines

   Representatives of user associations and other experts have been meeting on 3 occasions these last weeks with EPO management and experts in the framework of the Standing Advisory Committee before the EPO.

5. EPO receives top marks for quality of its patents and services

   The EPO has for the ninth consecutive time been ranked number one among the world's largest patent offices by users for the quality of its patents and services in Intellectual Asset Management (IAM)'s latest annual benchmarking survey.

6. For nature: EPO marks World Environment Day

   The EPO today celebrates World Environment Day. Hosted annually since 1974, the event draws participants in over 140 countries and encourages policy makers, businesses, and individuals to focus on important environmental issues.

7. EPO mourns with Spain over lives lost

   The management and staff of the EPO wishes to express their deepest sympathy for the people of Spain

8. Conference to mark 100th anniversary of the Latvian Patent Office highlights role of IP in supporting economic growth

   At an international conference today on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Patent Office of the Republic of Latvia, delegates paid tribute to the country's achievements in building up a solid intellectual property (IP) system, and discussed the importance of IP in supporting future innovation and economic growth.

9. Oral proceedings by video conference: new FAQ and training material available

   The EPO today published new guidance for users on how to conduct a hearing via video conference (ViCo).

10. Enlarged BoA issues opinion on EPO President’s referral on plant and animal patentability exception

    Today the Enlarged Board of Appeal, the highest level of judicial authority at the European Patent Office (EPO), issued its opinion G 3/19 on questions related to the patentability of plants and animals.