Patent offices target harmonisation feedback
A group of national patent offices have requested feedback on their continuing discussions about harmonising international patent laws.
The Tergensee group – whose name derives from the German town in which they first met – have published a questionnaire covering four topics they have discussed: grace period, publication of applications, treatment of conflicting applications, and prior user rights.
Representatives from offices in Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, the UK, the US and the European Patent Office formed the group in July 2011. Since their initial meeting, the group have met twice to discuss patent law and practice in each member’s jurisdiction, as well as the effects of harmonising laws.
At the most recent meeting in October 2012, the group agreed to focus on the four topics they have listed in the questionnaire.
Questions cover topics including in which jurisdictions respondents file the most trademarks; whether respondents have ever relied on a grace period; the importance of publishing patent applications in more than one office; and whether some patents should be exempt from prior use rights.
The group have asked patent owners to respond to the questionnaire by March 1, 2013. They will use the results and other feedback for future discussions on harmonising patent laws.
