Section

  • GETTING STARTED: LEGAL BACKGROUND AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

    Have a look at some information about the legal background and technical requirements for oral proceedings by videoconference before opposition divisions:

    • BACKGROUND INFORMATION [Text]

      The EPO has been conducting a pilot project since 4 May 2020 for oral proceedings by videoconference before opposition divisions (see the relevant decision , notice and the decision concerning the extension and modification of the pilot project.  Under the terms of the project, oral proceedings before opposition divisions are held by videoconference via Zoom. The oral proceedings held by videoconference apply for multiparty hearings including with/without interpretation and with/without taking evidence.

      This training module, produced by the EPO in co-operation with the epi, starts with an introduction to the legal background and technical requirements for such online proceedings and then shows a recording of mock oral proceedings held by videoconference in the third section. The mock proceedings were conducted by a real EPO opposition division with experienced European patent attorneys including interpretation in the EPO official languages. 

      In the recording, you will see how formalities are completed in oral proceedings held by videoconference via Zoom. For instance, you will learn how to:

      • start a videoconference with distributed participation
      • check the identity of the persons involved
      • facilitate participation by members of the public
      • open proceedings
      • accept submissions by email
      • interrupt and resume proceedings, e.g. for deliberation in non-public breakout rooms by the division
      • announce decisions and close proceedings.
      Participants (EPO)

      Heli Pihlajamaa, Britta Kley, Nataša Doslik, Theodora Butkowskyj-Walkiw, Hervé Chabus and Frédéric Bockstahl

      Participants (epi)
      Beth Marshall, Catherine Menes and Christoph B. Gyaja

      OPPOSITION USING THE ZOOM PLATFORM [Video, 19 mins]


      INTRODUCTORY REMARKS (Video, 3 min)


      LEGAL ASPECTS (Video, 16 min)


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      TECHNICAL SET UP & NETIQUETTE [Video, 8 mins]

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      Q&A ONLINE SEMINAR (07.07.2021) [Video, 1:21 hours]


      The European Patent Academy organised a public online seminar in July 2021 where an EPO lawyer and a patent examiner as well as a patent attorney shared their experiences on using Zoom for oral proceedings in opposition via videoconference. In this video, they provide practical tips for successfully running a hearing online and answers to the questions from the audience.

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  • DELIVERING ONLINE: PRESENTATION SKILLS

    Conducting oral proceedings online not only means adapting to a new technological set-up but also learning how to present a case in the most effective way in this new environment. This recording is relevant to patent attorneys who are fully conversant with how traditional in-person oral proceedings are held but need to adapt their rhetorical skills to the online environment. A trainer with a background in acting, a senior examiner with an extensive know-how in oral proceedings and an experienced patent attorney guide participants through this journey from in-person to online hearings. 

    • Advocating online before the EPO [Video, 2:08 hours]


      Participants
      Nataša Doslik (EPO), Joachim Renken (epi), Emma Darwall Smith (Communication Collective)

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  • PUTTING INTO PRACTICE: MOCK ORAL PROCEEDINGS