Summaries of the tasks of the committees

By-Laws Committee

The By-Laws Committee assists the President, the Board and the Council in all matters having regard to the interpretation of the various regulations of the epi, the most important of them being the Founding Regulation and the By-Laws. On request of the Board or Council the Committee proposes in the three official languages amendments of existing By-Laws, or drafts new ones.

The By-Laws Committee is responsible for the organisation of the Collection of Decisions (CoD) and for editorial changes and translation revisions.

The By-Laws Committee consists of five members, of which one shall have German, one English, and one French, respectively, as their mother tongue. This Committee shall have up to four substitute members, of which, one shall have German, one English, and one French, respectively as their mother tongue, necessarily substituting the full member having the same mother tongue.

Terms of Reference of the By-Laws

Primary contact in the epi Secretariat: Susanne Ullmann

Editorial Committee

The task of the Editorial Committee in publishing "epi Information" shall be to ensure that the publisher of the journal will receive all texts to be published. In addition, the tasks if the Editorial Committee in maintaining the epi website shall be to ensure that all texts to be published are placed and removed from the website as appropriate.

The Editorial Committee shall consist of at least four and at most eight members. Of these, one shall have German, one English, and one French, respectively, as their mother tongue. At least one member should have knowledge of Internet website design.

Terms of Reference of the Editorial Committee

Primary contact in the epi Secretariat: Sadia Liebig

epi-Finances Committee

The epi-Finances Committee advises on the preparation of the budget and makes proposals for the financial planning and financial management of the Institute. The Committee is empowered to consider financial management of the Institute and investigates every aspect of the financial affairs of the Institute, particularly for the purpose of ensuring a balanced financial situation.

The Committee shall have a maximum of ten full members.

Terms of Reference of the epi-Finances Committee

Primary contact in the epi Secretariat: Susanne Ullmann

EPO Finances Committee

The Committee's terms of reference are to keep under review the information available, from the EPO or otherwise, concerning all aspects of the financial affairs and forward planning of the EPO having relevance for the levels of official fees charged to the applicant. The concern of the Committee is not just the absolute level of fees, but also assessing whether the users of the EPO get value for money. This involves looking to the Annual Report and other documents relating to the EPO's costs, staffing, financial obligations, performance, and levels of demand.

The committee shall have a maximum of four full members, and up to four substitute members.

Terms of Reference of the EPO Finances Committee

Primary contact in the epi Secretariat: Susanne Ullmann

Online Communications Committee

The Online Communications Committee collaborates with the European Patent Office in its projects for introducing online communication. The Committee draws on experience and knowledge of the systems set up by the national Patent Offices of the USA and Japan. In addition, the Committee monitors the activities of National Patent Offices in the Member States and other official institutions in the area of online communications in connection with intellectual property and observes the efforts of these institutions regarding harmonisation of online communications. The Committee deals with all questions relating to these projects referred to it by members of the epi. The Committee members are selected for having practical experience of online systems for the benefit of the members of epi, and of the European Patent Office and its users.

The Committee shall have a maximum of eleven full members.

Terms of Reference of the OCC

Primary contact in the epi Secretariat: Susanne Ullmann

Harmonisation Committee

The Harmonisation Committee deals with all questions concerning the worldwide harmonisation of Patent Law. In particular, the Committee advises the delegates named by the President of the Council for meetings of the Standing Committee on the law of Patents, convened by WIPO, or for other related meetings convened by WIPO, and reports to the Council about these meetings.

The Harmonisation Committee shall have a maximum of ten full members.

Terms of Reference of the Harmonisation Committee

Primary contact in the epi Secretariat: Sadia Liebig

Biotechnology Committee (Biotech)

The Biotechnology Committee shall consider and discuss all questions pertaining to, or connected with, inventions in the field of biotechnology, including the Budapest Treaty.

For this Committee, only one full member may be elected for each member state.

Working Groups

• Antibodies
• Plants
• Sequence Listings

Terms of Reference of the Biotech Committee

Primary contact in the epi Secretariat: Sadia Liebig

Professional Conduct Committee

The Professional Conduct Committee shall deal with the formulation of recommendations in compliance with the Founding Regulation.

For this Committee the maximum number of members which may be elected from each member state is one full member and one substitute member.

Working Groups

• Further possible Amendments of the CoC
• Database of Opinions
• Training Activities
• Use of AI

Terms of Reference of the PCC

Primary contact in the epi Secretariat: Sadia Liebig

European Patent Practice Committee

The European Patent Practice Committee (EPPC) considers and discusses all questions pertaining to, or connected with, practice under the European Patent Convention, the Community Unitary Patent Regulation and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) including any revision thereof, except questions concerning inventions in the field of biotechnology, online communications, documentation and patent information, the litigation of EP and Community applications and patents, and the setting of EPO fees. The EPPC drafts epi position papers for ratification by Council and then submits them to relevant bodies.

This Committee shall include one full member, for each member state, and additional full members belonging to four technological groups as follows.

Technological Groups

• Pharmaceuticals (10 members)
• Information and Communication Technologies (12 members)
• Mechanics: (10 members)
• Chemistry (8 members)

Working Groups

• Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
• Quality
• Patent Documentation and Information (PDI)
• Unitary Patent (UP)
• European Patent Convention (EPC)
• Guidelines
• Members of SACEPO and Boards of Appeal (MSBA)
• G 1/24

Terms of Reference of the EPPC

Primary contact in the epi Secretariat: Susanne Ullmann

Professional Education Committee (PEC)

PEC advises the epi Board on professional education and qualification. There is at least one member from each EPC member country. The members are involved in EQE related matters and/or Continuing Professional Education (CPE) related matters.

The PEC organises and oversees educational activities, including webinars and seminars. The online activities are available on the epi-learning platform which is open to epi members and epi students, who are registered trainees preparing for the European Qualifying Examination (EQE). The epi students have access through the platform to a students’ forum, EQE online workshops and epi tutorials.

The full PEC meets twice a year: one plenary meeting is fully online and the other is a hybrid meeting. PEC has set up several sub-committees and working groups to concentrate on key areas of its responsibility.  Each group has the appropriate number of members and these groups meet online as frequently as needed.

At the moment, PEC is particularly considering the new format of the EQE as well as building the CPE program of seminars and webinars.

epi members are asked to get in touch with their national PEC member regarding any educational / PEC related matter.

One of the responsibilities of PEC members is the organisation of national seminars.

The PEC can be reached via pec@patentepi.org or via education@patentepi.org.

Subcommittees and Working Groups

• “CPE” subcommittee
• “Editorial” subcommittee
• “Education of professional representatives’ staff” subcommitee
• “epi students and EQE candidates” subcommittee
• “epi Tutors and Coaches” subcommittee
• “EQE” subcommittee
• “Executive” subcommittee
• “IPREE/REE” Working Group
• “Mandatory reporting of CPE” Working Group
• ”UP/UPC Education“ Working Group

Terms of Reference of the PEC

Primary contact in the epi Secretariat: Barbara Riffert, Jacqueline Kalbe

Litigation Committee

The Litigation Committee considers and discusses all aspects of patent litigation in Europe, in particular on infringement and validity of European Patents. It further observes inter-state agreements and relevant developing case law. In addition, the Litigation Committee also considers and discusses matters such as Client-Patent-Attorney-Privilege for and Representation in Court by European Patent Attorneys. The Litigation Committee plays an active role in monitoring, discussing and preparing epi positions on matters concerning the Unitary Patent/Unified Patent Court system including the requirements for European Patent Attorneys to acquire the necessary qualifications to play an active role in the UP/UPC system.

The underlying objective is for the Litigation Committee to be a strategic partner in further developing and improving the legal and practical framework for patent litigation in Europe.

The Committee shall consist of a maximum of one full member and one substitute member for each contracting state.

Sub-committees

The Litigation Committee has set up a number of subcommittees to concentrate on key areas of its responsibilities.

• UPC
• National Litigation Matters
• EU and International Litigation Matters

Terms of Reference of the Litigation Committee

Primary contact in the epi Secretariat: Susanne Ullmann

Electoral Committee

The Electoral Committee set up by the Council under Rule 4 of the Rules for election of Council, shall ensure the smooth running of the elections. For the ordinary election for which it is set up, the Electoral Committee shall supervise conformity with the applicable rules, the opening of envelopes and counting of the votes, shall decide in cases of doubt, shall draw  lots whenever required by the Rules for Election of Council, and shall prepare a written report to the President of the Council on that election.

Terms of Reference of the Electoral Committee

Primary contact in the epi Secretariat: Committees Support 

Nominations Committee (NC)

The Nominations Committee consists of a maximum of 6 members being current or former members of the Presidium, elected by the Council and not standing for election to the Board. The Nominations Committee exists to seek candidates for positions belonging to the Board, bearing in mind the capacity and the time availability of candidates to comply with the responsibilities of the positions to be filled, so as to ensure that there is at least a candidate for each vacant position in the Board.

Terms of Reference of the Nominations Committee

Primary contact in the epi Secretariat: Committees Support

epi Studentship Admissions Committee (SAC)

The purpose of this Committee is to determine whether each person applying to become an epi student has the necessary qualifications to meet the requirements set out in the Rules governing epi studentship.

The Committee shall consist of seven members elected by Council. 

Terms of Reference of SAC

Primary contact in the epi Secretariat: Noreen Osterlehner

IP Commercialization Committee

The IP Commercialization Committee (IPCC) shall consider and deal with all questions pertaining to, or connected with, IP commercialization.

The Committee shall consist of a maximum of 10 full members with practical experience in the field of IP commercialization.

Terms of Reference of the IPCC

Primary contact in the epi Secretariat: Sadia Liebig

Committees Election Committee (CEC)

The Committees Election Committee shall ensure the smooth running of Elections to Committees according to Article 18B By-Laws of the Institute of Professional Representatives.

The Committee shall consist of three members of the Institute who shall not stand for election to another committee.

Terms of Reference of the Committees Election Committee

Primary contact in the epi Secretariat: committees-support@patentepi.org