UNION-IP Roundtable Event on Indirect Infringement - February 23, 2018

A couple of years ago I was invited to attend a UNION-IP meeting to speak on what was then the hot topic of partial and poisonous priority. I reported on the event (which was very well attended) in a post at the time here. UNION-IP, who have since made me Vice President of their Patents Commission, hold these events at around the same time every year, choosing a different topic to discuss each time. This time around the topic is indirect infringement. The general idea, as always, is to gather views on how things are approached in different European jurisdictions so the audience can get a clearer picture.

As the UNION-IP website states, it is a challenge to provide patent protection for parts, components, and consumables, such as used in coffee machines, printers, cars, and as ingredients for pharmaceuticals. Indirect infringement might be the solution for the patentee. However, this is complex, and is interpreted differently across Europe. This half day Round Table will examine questions relevant to drafting or litigating a patent, and will discuss the situation in the UK, Germany and Italy and elsewhere, as well as touching on how things might change if/when the UPC comes into force.

The speakers lined up for the event, which is to be held at the German Patent Office in Munich on Friday 23 February 2018, include Dr Klaus Bacher, Judge at the Bundesgerichtshof (German Federal Court), Silvia Vitrò, President of the IP Specialized Court of Turin, Mr Justice Sir Henry Carr of the English High CourtSir Robin Jacob, Florence Jacquand of Véron & Associés, and Gabriele Mohsler of Ericsson.

The event should prove to be very interesting and informative, and will hopefully give attendees a good picture of how this topic, which is far from being unified across Europe, is dealt with in different jurisdictions. I hope to be present myself (although I won't be speaking this time), and look forward to seeing plenty of people there.