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Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office

Sub-committees

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

“UPC Rules of Procedure and Case Management System (CMS)” sub-committee

The UPC Rules of Procedure and CMS sub-committee monitors litigation related developments within the UP/UPC system. One of the main tasks of the sub-committee is to evaluate any proposed amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the UPC. The sub-committee also monitors proposals and developments in relation to UPC Court Fees and UPC Mediation and Arbitration Rules. In addition, the sub-committee considers any developments of the UPC CMS system and liaises on this aspect with the epi Online Communications Committee (OCC).

Current Topics under discussion in the UPC Rules of Procedure and Case Management System (CMS) sub-committee:     

  1. UPC Rules of Procedure (RoP).
  2. UPC Case Management System (CMS).
  3. UPC Mediation and Arbitration Rules.
UPC-CMS
Current Members
BE Sophie Christiane Carol Racine (subst.)
CZ Michal Guttmann (subst.)
DE Tilman Pfrang
Verena Clarita Töpert (subst.)
DK Jesper Thorsen
ES Juan Arias Sanz
FI Kim Larseman Finnilä (Chair)
HU Palma Grof
Ferenc Török
LU Mathis Bruck
PL Katarzyna Dorota Lewicka
PT Nuno Cruz
Luís Humberto Silvestre de Almeida Ferreira (subst.)
SE Torbjörn Presland
TR Emrah Tas

“Representation and Privilege” sub-committee

The Representation and Privilege sub-committee monitors developments concerning representation, in particular by European Patent Attorneys, in proceedings before the UPC. The sub-committee monitors particularly how European Patent Attorneys can acquire the additional qualification in order to fully represent clients before the UPC. The sub-committee monitors and discusses also the situation regarding the implementation and recognition of a Client-Patent-Attorney-Privilege for European Patent Attorneys at national, regional and international levels.   

Current Topics under discussion in the Representation and Privilege sub-committee:

  1. Representation before UPC/Litigation Certificate.
  2. Selection and training on Judges in UPC.
  3. Code of Conduct (in close collaboration with epi PCC).
  4. Client-Patent-Attorney-Privilege for European Patent Attorneys in a possible international instrument.
Representation and Privilege
Current Members
CH Thomas Ottmar Körner (subst.)
CY Christos A. Theodoulou
ES Juan Arias Sanz
FI Kim Larseman Finnilä
GB Matthew Peter Critten (subst.)
HU Palma Grof
GR Konstantinos Vavekis
IT Giuseppe Colucci (Chair)
LI Bernd-Günther Harmann
NO Kari Helen Simonsen
SE Torbjörn Presland

“Enforcement and Jurisdiction” sub-committee

The Enforcement and Jurisdiction sub-committee monitors substantial developments in patent litigation across all member states of the EPC in particular in relation to legislative developments and/or amendments of IP (Patent) legislation. 

Current Topics under discussion in the Enforcement and Jurisdiction sub-committee:

  1. Damages for Patent Infringement.
  2. Proportionality and Injunctive Relief.
  3. Trade Secrets in Patent Litigation.
Enforcement and Jurisdiction
Current Members
BE Annemie Jaeken
Sophie Christiane Carol Racine (subst.)
DE Tilman Pfrang
Verena larita Töpert (subst.)
DK Jesper Thorsen
GB Stoyan Atanassov Radkov
GR Konstantinos Vavekis (Chair)
HR Albina Dlacic (subst.)
Sanja Vukina
HU Palma Grof
Ferenc Török
LT Vilija Viesunaite
NL Addick Adrianus Gosling Land
PL Katarzyna Dorota Lewicka
PT Nuno Cruz
Luís Humberto Silvestre de Almeida Ferreira (subst.)
SI Renata Osolnik
SK Vladimir Neuschl
TR Emrah Tas

“Virtual Proceedings” sub-committee

This sub-committee was established in direct response to the activities at both the European Patent Office and at national level to ensure access to justice through virtual hearings in Court Proceedings as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic. The sub-committee is active in monitoring use of virtual proceedings in patent litigation proceedings and supports the epi EPPC on the topic “virtual proceedings at the EPO”.

Current Topics under discussion in the Virtual Proceedings sub-committee:

  1. Remote Participation in Court Proceedings.
  2. Supporting epi EPPC on G 1/21 regarding experiences of virtual proceedings in patent litigation.
Virtual Proceedings
Current Members
BG Milena Lubenova Georgieva-Tabakova
DE Tilman Pfrang (Chair)
EE Mart Enn Koppel
FR Laurent Nuss
HU Ferenc Török
IR Triona Mary Walshe
IT Giuseppe Colucci
PT Luís Humberto Silvestre de Almeida Ferreira (subst.)

“Brexit implications on Patent Litigation” sub-committee

This sub-committee focuses on the changes to patent litigation that will come into effect as a consequence of the Brexit Agreement.

Current Topics under discussion in the Brexit Implications on Patent Litigation sub-committee:

  1. Rules for service of documents regarding patent litigation.
  2. Recognition and Jurisdiction of patent litigation decisions in view of Brexit (with specific attention to whether or not the UK accedes to the Lugano Convention).
  3. UK’s future regime for exhaustion of IP rights including implications of the Northern Ireland Protocol on patent litigation.
Brexit
Current Members
CY Christos A. Theodoulou
GB Matthew Peter Critten (subst.)
Stoyan Atanassov Radkov (Chair)
PL Katarzyna Dorota Lewicka
PT Luís Humberto Silvestre de Almeida Ferreira (subst.)