Articles

Stem cells are found in almost all multi-cellular organisms. Stem cells are totipotent or pluripotent which means they have the ability to renew themselves and differentiate into a complete organism (=totipotent) or that they have the ability to differentiate into a diverse range of specialized cell types (=pluripotent). There are two types of mammalian stem cells: embryonic stem cells, found in embryos, and adult stem cells, found in various tissues.

In a series of recent judgments and orders, the Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled on several requirements for grant of supplementary protection certificates. There appears to be general consensus that the rulings fall short of clarity as well as consistency with existing patent law and practice, thereby raising more questions than they answer.

In January 2012 WIPO is to introduce a register that will allow applicants interested in licensing the inventions contained in their international application, to make this information available on the PATENTSCOPE website.

During the PCT-procedure the applicant has the possibility to demand International Preliminary Examination under Art. 31 PCT (“Demand for Chapter II”). This possibility is often used by applicants when a negative International Search Report is received while an International Preliminary Examination Report (IPER) with a positive opinion is desired. Together with the filing of the demand, arguments and possibly claim amendments have to be filed relating to the objections raised in the search report.

At Nederlandsch Octrooibureau it is our advisors’ daily task to deliver the best IP services to our clients, whether prosecuting applications, maintaining patents in opposition or revoking competitor’s patents are involved. How nice it would be to have full insight into the working manner and way of thinking of “the other side”, that is, the intellectual property organizations responsible for granting and, if needed, revoking patents.