Patent Baristas

The therapeutic use of that substance cannot be patented because that use is a method of treatment of a human or animal body by surgery, therapy or diagnosis which is practiced on that human or animal body. Methods of treatment are regarded in Europe as not being capable of industrial application and are consequently not […]

The EPO Enlarged Board of Appeal handed down its decision relating to the interpretation of the exclusion for patentability under article 53(c) EPC “method for treatment of the human or animal body by surgery”. Questions were asked to the Enlarged Board in a case about a medical imaging method, whereby a contrast agent was injected […]

Jeff Kuester, a technology attorney with Taylor | English in Atlanta, Georgia, has started AwakenIP, a web site devoted to intellectual property law.  As noted on the site: This website is an attempt to help reignite broader recognition of the full value of intellectual property. Much criticism has been levied against the usefulness of intellectual […]

The Administrative Council of the EPO decided, in March 2009, to make significant changes to the Implementing Rules of the European Patent Convention (EPC). These changes will enter into force on April 1, 2010 and will have a significant impact on the grant procedure before the EPO. Introduction of a new time limit for filing […]

Those of you who regularly prosecute patents in Australia will be aware that Australia has a unique approach to inventive step/non-obviousness. Specifically, Australian law differs from international norms in two fairly notable ways: Firstly, not all prior art references are citable. Rather, in order to be citable, a prior art reference must firstly be shown […]

The Program: FastTrac® TechVentureTM is a hands-on business development program specifically designed to assist scientists, inventors, engineers and IT developers to commercialize an innovative and scalable technology, product or service. FastTrac® TechVenture will be presented over a six-week period beginning Tuesday, February 23, 2010.  Each week different business development and management topics will be discussed: […]

Many readers of Patent Baristas may have noticed that the site has been “off-line” for a bit.  With my deepest apologies, I have found myself in the midst of a family emergency that is requiring most of my time and leaving little or no time for extras like blogging.  Since the difficulties may be extended […]

Though even thinking on the subject of time may prove discomforting, it is not a bad idea—especially at the beginning of a new year. As we look into 2010 we look at a block of time. We see 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes, 31,536,000 seconds. And all is a gift […]