EU Patent Office Glossary Flashcards
https://www.epo.org/service-support/glossary.html
Abstract
Part of a patent application or specification. Contains a brief summary of the invention.
AC - Administrative Council
One of the two organs of the European Patent Organisation, the other being the European Patent Office. The Council acts as the Office’s supervisory body and is composed of representatives of the Organisation’s member states.
Appeal
Process by which a party challenges a decision taken by the European Patent Office, such as a decision to refuse a patent application. Decisions on appeals are taken by the EPO’s independent Boards of Appeal. Parties may also challenge a decision to grant a patent by filing an opposition.
Application
Request for patent protection for an invention filed with the EPO or other patent office.
BoA - The Boards of Appeal
The Boards of Appeal are responsible for examining appeals against decisions taken by the Office. Integrated into the organisational structure of the Office yet independent from it in their decisions, they are bound only by the European Patent Convention. There are currently 28 technical Boards of Appeal, plus the Legal Board of Appeal, the Enlarged Board of Appeal and the Disciplinary Board of Appeal.
CII: Computer-implemented inventions
Inventions that work by using a computer, a computer network or other programmable apparatus. To be patentable, they must have technical character and solve a technical problem, be new and involve an inventive technical contribution to the prior art.
Claim
Part of a patent application or specification. Defines the matter for which protection is sought in terms of technical features.
Contracting states
Countries that have ratified the European Patent Convention and are thus member states of the European Patent Organisation.
CPS: Cooperative Patent Classification
a patent classification system developed in partnership between the USPTO and the EPO.
Designated states
The contracting states in which protection is sought for the invention.
Drawing
Pictorial representation of the invention in a patent application or specification
EBoA: Enlarged Board of Appeal
Clarifies, interprets and ensures uniform application of important points of law relating to the EPC.
Enlarged Board of Appeal
Clarifies, interprets and ensures uniform application of important points of law relating to the EPC.
EPOQUE
EPO query services. A system enabling EPO examiners and national patent offices to query over 170 databases, including the EPO’s own internal databases as well as databases from commercial providers covering patent and non-patent bibliographic data, abstracts and full text.
EQE
European qualifying examination. An exam designed to establish whether candidates have the aptitude and knowledge to represent applicants before the EPO.
Espacenet
Free online service allowing users to search the EPO’s patent data collection.
Euro-PCT application
European patent application that has entered the European procedure via a PCT international application. Such an application is equivalent to a regular European patent application.
European patent attorney
Qualified professional representative appointed to act on behalf of an applicant to draft a patent application and/or to accompany the application through the various stages of the patent grant procedure.
European Patent Bulletin
Contains bibliographic data as well as data concerning the legal status of European patent applications and patents. It is available in the form of free downloadable files and also as a subscription-based online search service (EP Bulletin search).
European Patent Convention
International treaty signed by the member states of the European Patent Organisation which provides a unified legal system under which European patents are granted.
European Patent Office
Provides a uniform application procedure which enables inventors to seek patent protection in up to 40 European countries. The executive arm of the European Patent Organisation.
European Patent Organisation
Intergovernmental organisation that was set up on the basis of the European Patent Convention. It has two bodies: the European Patent Office and the Administrative Council, which supervises the Office’s activities.
European qualifying examination
An exam designed to establish whether candidates have the aptitude and knowledge to represent applicants before the EPO.
European search
Search carried out by the EPO on a direct European application.