EPC Opposition
Full course description
The module EPC Opposition covers both the technical and legal aspects of raising an opposition to a granted European patent before the European Patent Office.
Taught by: Natasja Duhayon (European Patent Attorney, IMEC)
Teaching methods: Lectures, tutorials, and assignments
Assessment method: Assignments
The course is assessed on the following basis:
Each assignment will amount to 50% of the final score. There will be no written exam.
Attending the lecture sessions is obligatory
Course objectives
At the end of this course, the student, based on the knowledge obtained in earlier modules (in particular in relation to novelty and inventive step) will be conversant with issues such as formal and substantive aspects of opposition. Relevant issues are: priority problems (effective date), prior use, interpretation of prior art, etc. The situation is studied from the perspective of the opponent as well as from the patent proprietor. The student will learn the basics of attacking a patent claim by employing claim construction and formulating reasoned attacks under novelty and inventive step. In addition, aspects of appeal proceedings will be dealt with.
Recommended reading
Standard literature plus additional materials