China has joined the Hague System

On 5 February 2022, China declared its accession to the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs (“Hague System”). As of 5 May 2022, it wil...

HOFFMANN EITLE congratulates thirteen newly qualified European Patent Attorneys

We are proud to announce that thirteen of our colleagues have passed all four papers of the 2021 European Qualifying Examination (EQE). Congratulations go to: Felix Briza (Mechanics, Munic...

Amicus Curiae Brief G1/21

The European Patent Office has been planning to make oral proceedings by videoconference (in the following: video proceedings) the "new normal" even after the end of the current pandemic. In regard...

Changes in the designation of the inventor (Rule 19 EPC) at the European Patent Office

As of April 1st 2021, Rule 19 EPC, which regulates the designation of the inventor, will be changed. Most notably, paragraphs (3) and (4) will be deleted, which means that inventors will no longer...

EPO "Talk innovation" podcast with Joachim Renken

The European Patent Office "Talk innovation" podcast provides current insights to the commercialization of innovations through interviews with experts, patent examiners, inventors and specialists....

Euro Law Conference - USA 2021 (virtual event)

MIP host the third biennial MIP Euro Law Conference on January 18 and 19. We are pleased to announce that Hoffmann Eitle will be the cooperation partner of the conference. At the virtual event, key...

Euro Law Conference - Asia 2021 (virtual event)

MIP host the third biennial MIP Euro Law Conference on January 20 and 21. We are pleased to announce that Hoffmann Eitle will be the cooperation partner of the conference. At the virtual event, ke...

COVID-19 Update

HOFFMANN EITLE continues to be fully operational. Our systems are safe and reliable and facilitate remote access. We are of course continuing to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely. As a helpful...

G3/19 - Plants/animals by biological process not patentable

The Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBA) has decided in G 3/19 that the term “essentially biological processes for the production of plants or animals” in Article 53(b) EPC is to be understood and applie...

HOFFMANN EITLE welcomes new partner to London office

We are delighted to announce that Toby Simpson has joined HOFFMANN EITLE as a partner. Toby, who is based in our London office, joins us from another top-tier firm, where he was a partner for eigh...