The Annotated European Patent Convention (23rd Ed. updated till 15-11-2015)

The twenty-third edition of The Annotated European Patent Convention gives the complete text of the European Patent Convention 2000 and its implementing regulations. The notes provide a commentary on the text of the law and explain the interpretation of each paragraph of the law. The notes relate to the text of the EPC 2000 and are updated till 15 November 2015. Announced amendments of the law that enter into force after 15 November 2015 have also been included.

The new edition includes the amendments in the latest edition of the Guidelines, the November 2015 edition. References to the book Case Law of the Boards of Appeal have been updated to the latest, 7th edition of the book of September 2013. The new edition covers four new decisions of the Enlarged Board of Appeal, the waiver of a further Rule 71(3) communication, handwritten amendments in opposition oral proceedings, and new electronic communication.

Cross-references in the notes to articles and rules aim at giving an insight into the structure of the Convention. The provisions also contain references to the EPC 1973 to facilitate comparison of the old and new law. Numerous references to case law and the Guidelines allow the user to consult the source of the information contained in the notes and give a quick access to important case law. Transitional provisions from the EPC 1973 to the EPC 2000 are given where still relevant.

The book also contains a chapter on PCT, which gives an overview of the PCT procedure as in force on 15 November 2015, including the relations with the EPC. Announced amendments entering into force after 15 November 2015 are indicated. The closing sections of the book consist of  a Case Law Table, an Index, and summaries of articles and rules of various law texts, intended for obtaining a quick grasp of essential elements of these laws.

Since changes in the law and its interpretation are marked in each edition, the book has proven to be a much used tool for keeping up to date with developments of the European Patent Convention.

The Author is patent attorney and of counsel at EIP llp in London and lecturer European patent law at Ceipi Strasbourg