European Patent Office The lifecycle of a patent

European Patent Office The lifecycle of a patent application Bazna 15 March 2007

Getting started The European Patent Office Getting started Filing online Paying fees Searching applications Monitoring applications Online Services Contact Location Utrecht, September 1997 2

Getting started The European Patent Office Getting started The invention. . Filing online Paying fees Searching applications Monitoring applications Online Services Contact Mr Daniel Albertus Jozef Dijs, an inventor working for Sarah Lee in Utrecht, comes up with a brilliant idea for an assembly to be used in a xxxxxx machine. . . 3

Filing online The European Patent Office Getting started Filing online Paying fees Searching applications Monitoring applications . . . details of the invention are discussed with Patent Attorney Henry T. Lord and it is decided to file a patent application. . . Online Services Contact 4

Filing online The European Patent Office Getting started Henry Lord and his assistant prepare the patent application and submit it to the Dutch patent office. Filing online Paying fees Searching applications Monitoring applications Online Services Contact 5

Filing online The European Patent Office Getting started Filing online Paying fees Searching applications Monitoring applications Online Services Contact However, Mr Dijs works for a large multinational, and they decide to also protect Mr Dijs' invention in Europe, US, Japan, Australia. . . Therefore Sara Lee decide to file a European application via Epoline on-line filing, claiming priority from the original Dutch filing. 6

Filing online The European Patent Office Getting started Filing online Paying fees Searching applications Mr. Lord receives an instant receipt containing the application number and the date of receipt Monitoring applications Online Services Contact 7

Paying fees The European Patent Office Getting started Filing online Paying fees Last-minute payments made by Mr. Lord using epoline® Online Fee Payment Searching applications Monitoring applications Online Services Contact 8

Searching applications The European Patent Office Getting started Filing online Paying fees Searching applications Monitoring applications Online Services Contact After twelve months the application is published via the European Publication server, f Esp@cenet and it also pops up in Register Plus 3 sources of patent information 9

Monitoring applications The European Patent Office Getting started Filing online Paying fees A link to Register Plus is provided where the latest status can be checked Searching applications Monitoring applications Online Services Contact 10

Monitoring applications The European Patent Office Getting started Further e-mail alerts confirm the grant. . . Filing online Paying fees Searching applications Monitoring applications Online Services Contact 11

Monitoring applications The European Patent Office Getting started Filing online Paying fees Eventually, Sarah Lee inventor Mr Dijs has to be informed the patent is revoked. . . Searching applications Monitoring applications Online Services Contact 12

Monitoring applications The European Patent Office Getting started Filing online Paying fees Searching applications Monitoring applications Is Mr Dijs very sad ? No, the company made a lot of money and his "invention" makes millions of people happy every morning. . . Online Services Contact 13

Getting started The European Patent Office Getting started Filing online Paying fees Searching applications Monitoring applications And no need to worry, Mr Dijs has another invention up his sleeve, and after thorough search in espacenet ® for prior art. . . Online Services Contact . . . it is decided to file another European patent application using epoline® Online Filing 14

Online Services The European Patent Office Getting started Filing online Paying fees Searching applications Monitoring applications Online Services Contact • Online Filing • Online Fee Payment • European Publication Server • Register Plus • espacenet® • Web. Reg. MT 15

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