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European Patent Network
The European Patent Network was set up as a result of the strategy debate (June 2004 - June 2006) on co-operation between the EPO and the national IP offices of the member states. The new co-operation initiatives by the partners in the Network are designed to improve the efficiency of Europe's patent system.The Network has four main pillars: the Utilisation Pilot Project, a new Co-Operation Policy, the Customer Service Project and the Quality Project.
Launched in January 2007, the Utilisation Pilot Project will enable EPO examiners processing European patent applications that claim priority from a first filing to make appropriate use of work already carried out by national patent offices on national filings. This will help prevent duplication of work within the Network and improve the quality of the European patent system thanks to a feedback mechanism from EPO examiners to national offices. Depending on the results of this pilot project, the Administrative Council will decide in June 2008 whether to go ahead with the full-scale roll-out of the utilisation scheme within the EPN.
The new Co-operation Policy will focus - among other things - on harmonising national practice, long-term training of patent office staff, use of databases and other tools, and raising patent awareness in member countries. In that way, the European patent system will help to promote innovation and economic growth. The PATLIB (Patent information centres) network will play a crucial role in this.
Working groups have been or will be set up to prepare the remaining projects. The Customer Service Project will enhance the EPO's support for services provided by national patent offices to users of the patent system, including "standard" and "special" searches . The purpose of the Quality Project is to review existing quality systems in the institutions of the Network and prepare a set of minimum standards they should implement.