The European Unified Patent System and Its Impact on U.S. Businesses

The E.U.’s “unitary patent package” legislation is the most radical change in European patent practice in the past 40 years. On April 22, join intellectual property experts at the German Center for Research and Innovation (GCRI) in New York for a panel discussion on the implications of this new system.

NEW YORK (April 16, 2014) – New legislation will create a unitary patent right and a unified patent court system across Europe, ensuring uniform patent protection for inventions throughout the E.U. How will these changes affect the way patents are granted and enforced in Europe? To what extent will this new system affect U.S. businesses and practitioners? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this new system? On Tuesday, April 22, 2014, hear experts from Germany and the U.S. respond to these questions and provide an overview of the unitary patent, the unified patent court, and current developments in E.U. technology transfer law.

James Calkins, Associate Vice President and Global Head of Patent Support for Emerging Markets and Consumer Products at Sanofi, will speak at the event. In his presentation, he will explain the pros and cons of the current E.U. patent system as well as will provide the U.S. business and pharmaceutical industry’s perspectives on the system. Mr. Calkins previously litigated and licensed IP and started a boutique IP firm that specialized in advising Wall Street firms on patent matters. Before attending law school, Mr. Calkins worked for 14 years in the chemical industry. Mr. Calkins is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire College of Law (formerly, Franklin Pierce Law Center).

He will be joined by Dr. Thomas L. Bittner, a European and German patent attorney at Boehmert & Boehmert, one of the largest legal practices in Germany specializing in intellectual property. Dr. Bittner will compare options for patent protection in Europe today with regards to a national patent, a European “bundle” patent, and a future unitary patent. His presentation will also explore the basic aspects of the future unitary patent court (UPC) as well as the options of court action in Europe today and after implementation of the UPC. Dr. Bittner studied physics at the Humboldt University in Berlin. After his Ph.D., he worked at the Argonne National Laboratory in the U.S before starting his career in IP at IBM Germany’s patent department. Since 1999, he has been a partner at Boehmert & Boehmert. Dr. Bittner is a former visiting lecturer at the Hasso-Plattner-Institut of the University of Potsdam. The JUVE Handbook 2013/2014 lists him as one of the most frequently recommended patent attorneys.

Dr. Julian Waiblinger, Attorney at Law at Boehmert & Boehmert, will provide an update on the new rules regarding technology transfer agreements. He will also address the new regulations and guidelines the European commission has adopted, which will take effect May 1, 2014. His presentation will further cover important changes related to strict restrictions and no-challenge clauses. Dr. Waiblinger studied law at Humboldt University in Berlin and at King's College in London. He obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Freiburg in copyright law with a thesis entitled “Plagiarism in Science.” During his legal clerkship, Dr. Waiblinger worked with a U.S. corporate law firm in New York City as well as at the German Foreign Office. Since 2011, Dr. Waiblinger has been working in the field of intellectual property law at Boehmert & Boehmert.

Dr. Christian Czychowski, Attorney at Law at Boehmert & Boehmert, will help moderate the discussion. Dr. Cyzchowski studied law and musicology at the University of Bonn and subsequently obtained his doctorate in copyright contract law. In 2014, he was appointed Honorary Professor by the University of Potsdam. His areas of specialty are copyright and information technology law as well as patent and licensing contract law. In 2009, Dr. Czychowski played a key role in the development of the publication “Model Agreements for Research and Development Cooperation’s,” which was conceived by the Council on Innovation of the Federal Ministry of Economics in Germany.

Dr. Heinz Goddar, a German patent attorney and European patent and trademark attorney in Munich at Boehmert & Boehmert, will also assist as moderator. His technical background as well as his Ph.D. degree is in physics. Dr. Goddar teaches intellectual property law as an honorary professor at the University of Bremen, Germany, as a lecturer at the Munich Intellectual Property Law Center (MIPLC), and as a visiting professor as well as a lecturer at several universities in both Asia and the U.S. Dr. Goddar is a past president of the Licensing Executives Society (LES) International and of LES Germany.

Jochen Wolter, Consul and Head of Press and Public Information for the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in New York, will provide the welcome remarks.

This event will take place on Tuesday, April 22, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the German Center for Research and Innovation (871 United Nations Plaza, First Avenue, btw. 48th & 49th Streets). Unable to attend? Follow @gcri_ny and the hashtag #patent for live tweets.

This event is co-sponsored by the German Center for Research and Innovation (GCRI), the German American Chambers of Commerce, Inc., and Boehmert & Boehmert.

The German Center for Research and Innovation provides information and support for the realization of cooperative and collaborative projects between North America and Germany. With the goal of enhancing communication on the critical challenges of the 21st century, GCRI hosts a wide range of events from lectures and exhibitions to workshops and science dinners. Opened in February 2010, GCRI was created as a cornerstone of the German government’s initiative to internationalize science and research and is one of five centers worldwide.

Jennifer Audet
Communications Officer
German Center for Research and Innovation
871 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017
Audet@GermanInnovation.org
(212) 339 8680, ext. 302

This release was published on openPR.