IP5 Statistics Report 2023
Recently, the annual IP5 Statistics Report of the world’s five largest IP offices (IP5) was issued.
Copaxone – publication of the decision
Following our last IP Alert of 23 January 2025, the decision of the European Commission dated 8 April 2025 (only the English text is authentic) is now available under reference AT.40588 : https://competition-cases.ec.europa.eu/cases/AT.40588
Data protection – June-December 2024
This newsletter presents a selection of legal news from June to December 2024 in the field of personal data protection.
Patent protection for methods for treatment in Europe and the US
For European patents, methods for treatment by surgery or therapy are explicitly excluded from patentability by the legislation (Article 53 EPC), although the case law of the European Patent Office has evolved towards a more permissive practice than in the past. Medical devices are not excluded, however, and may be the subject of a European patent application.
Revision of the USPTO patent fee schedule
On November 20, 2024, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced a revised Patent fee schedule that will take effect on January 19, 2025.