Patent watch group

Since the adoption of the EU Patent Directive in 1998, legal protection for biological inventions has become much clearer in Europe.

patent may be a useful tool in many instances, providing a 20-year monopoly to the inventor of a new and useful product or process; a patent is a fair return to innovators and an incentive to technical progress.

In response to this risk, Patent Watch was set up by EFFAB in 2005, to prevent broad patents and already established business. The EFFAB Patent Watch is a voluntary service for members. Participating members jointly decide on the patent applications to be watched and the costs for the service (patent attorney, organisation of the watch) are shared equally. There are four meetings by teleconference per year.

 

​For more information, please contact effab[at]effab.info