Posted on December 05, 2024
In March 2025, colleague Anne-Marie Conn will be delivering an MBL Learn Live seminar on Patent Applications & The PCT Phase - Getting the Best Value
The International (‘PCT’) phase can be an opportunity for a strategic pause in active prosecution of a patent application for 18 months or more, during which an applicant can develop their invention and monitor the likelihood of its success, before re-assessing the commercial value ahead of the costs of national phase entry. Alternatively, and additionally, the PCT offers applicants opportunities to advance prosecution, to put the application in better shape for examination in the national phase.
The Learn Live seminar will be on 11 March 2025 from 12.15 pm - 1.30 pm
Anne-Marie drafts and prosecutes patent applications; advises on and participates in post-grant procedures (particularly opposition proceedings at the European Patent Office); and advises on freedom to operate, patent portfolio management and intellectual property agreements. Her work spans several areas of chemistry and biochemistry.
Key points:
- Practicalities of IPE - deadlines, formal requirements, matters to watch out for and advantages to seize on
- Strategy in IPE - oral dialogue with the Examiner, co-ordinating families of co-pending cases, early certainty and ‘what next’
- Substance of IPE - admissibility and allowability of claim amendments, issues examined in principle and in reality
- Patent Prosecution Highway - how it works, how it dovetails with IPE, when and whether it is useful
- PCT Direct - what it is, how it works, how it can complement or replace IPE, and other strategic tips and tricks
Intended audience:
- Patent/IP managers within businesses who would like to know how to leverage the PCT phase of their patent applications to save costs and reduce the burden of prosecution in the national and regional phases.
- IP solicitors and patent attorneys (in-house or private practice, and in any jurisdiction) looking to advise clients on strategy for PCT patent applications and national/regional phase applications.
- Level - Intermediate to Advanced
This session will focus on whether/when to use IPE and how to get the best value from IPE if it is used, exemplified by reference to the EPO as International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA). The content is to an extent relevant for other IPEAs. The session will also look at complementary aspects for getting value from the PCT phase, particularly PCT Direct and the Patent Prosecution Highway.
For further information, or to register for the seminar, click here.
