Course: Opposition Matters 2022 | PC02-2022

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    Following in the footsteps of Search Matters and Examination Matters, Opposition Matters is fast becoming a key event for patent searchers and attorneys alike, offering participants direct access to EPO examiners and lawyers and European patent attorneys with years of opposition experience. This year’s conference, which took place on 24 and 25 November 2022, not only focused on procedural and substantive aspects of opposition proceedings such as amendments, late filing of submissions and auxiliary requests, there was also an exchange of experience on how all parties involved in the proceedings collaborate, and a look at what key developments can be expected in the opposition area in future.

    In the sections below you can:

    • watch recordings of the sessions and panel discussions
    • access and download the presentations  


    Click     here to view the programme for Opposition Matters 2022.

    You can access the recordings of last year’s Opposition Matters here.

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    Programme

    09.00   Welcome

    Steve Rowan, Vice-President Patent Granting Process, EPO
    Julia Gwilt, Chair of the epi Professional Education Committee

    09.10   The new PD Opposition and Centralised Formalities at the EPO: mission and vision 

    Patrick Bodart, Principal Director, Opposition and Centralised Formalities, EPO

     Download presentation (PDF)

    09.30   Panel discussion
    “Putting yourself in the others’ shoes”- how to improve collaboration of all parties involved 


    Moderator:
    Frédéric Bockstahl, Examiner, EPO 

    Panelists:  
    Julian Crump, European patent attorney, epi 
     Howard Read, European patent attorney, epi
    Alex Gardiner, Examiner, EPO
     Tobias Irmscher, Lawyer, Patent Law and Procedures, EPO  

    10.45   Presentation & Panel discussion 
    Amendments in opposition proceedings / Handling of auxiliary requests at oral proceedings: focus on number and divergence


    Moderator: 
    Richard Paalman, Director, Opposition and Centralised Formalities, EPO 

    Panellists: 
    Jonathan Stafford, European patent attorney, epi
     Huijb Dorpema, Examiner, EPO
    Britta Kley, Lawyer, Patent Law and Procedures, EPO

     Download presentations (PDF)

    12.00   Wrap-up

    Richard Paalman, Director, Opposition and Centralised Formalities, EPO 
    Frédéric Bockstahl, Examiner, EPO
    Isabella Pielka, Director, Opposition and Centralised Formalities, EPO 

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    Programme

    09.00   Late-filed submissions in opposition: facts, evidence and arguments


    Britta Kley, Lawyer, Patent Law and Procedures, EPO

     Download presentation (PDF)

    09.45   Quality management in Opposition 

    Suzanne Herrera, Director, Quality and Practice Harmonisation, EPO
    Pasquale Foglia, Director, Opposition and Centralised Formalities, EPO

     Download presentation (PDF)

    10.45   Dos and don’ts in oral proceedings


    Nataša Doslik, Senior expert, EPO
    Joachim Renken, European patent attorney, epi  

    11.30   Panel discussion
    Opposition proceedings in a changing world 
    (societal, tools, procedures)


    Moderators: 
    Vagn Nissen, Director, Opposition and Centralised Formalities, EPO 

    Introduction (10 min) to panel discussion:
    Roberta Romano-Götsch, Chief Sustainability Officer, EPO 

    Panellists:
    Sébastien Nicolai, Examiner, EPO 
     David Mazur, European patent attorney, epi
    Hansjörg Dinger, European patent attorney, epi
     Nyske Blokhuis, European patent attorney, epi

    12.30   Wrap-up

    Patrick Bodart, Principal Director, Opposition and Centralised Formalities, EPO  

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