Report of the IP Commercialization Committee
In the first weeks of 2025 IPCC conducted 3 webinars regarding IP commercialisation, covering 1) Tools of the Trade, 2) Standard Essential Patents, and 3) How to succeed in a Patent License Deal. They were well received by epi members. Three basic webinars created in 2021 (corona period) by former epi President Tony Tangena are still available free of charge on epi-learning.org.
A half-hour Insight epi podcast called “Meet the IPCC” was broadcast in December in advance of the webinars, also to promote the webinars.
Regulations of the EU Commission, called the “patent package”, have been another focus. The Regulation concerning compulsory licenses for crisis management was debated in European Parliament and in the European Council of the member states. Both institutions improved various stipulations to strengthen the participation of patent holders and licensees and to define the tasks of the Advisory Body more accurate. Thus, much of our list of deficiencies is amended. The process is however complicated and not very practical. Controversial is compulsory disclosure of Know-how and trade secrets – contrary to Parliament, Council is against, concordant with epi’s view. A consolidated draft is still awaited.
The second Regulation regarding SEP was disputed in consultations, also IPCC kept up most of the objections formulated a year ago. Mid of February the Commission finally withdrew the initiative, which is in our opinion no loss for the profession in view of the numerous shortcomings.
IPCC set up a table of national practices regarding patent capitalisation. Most countries allow that also for own-created patents with strict requirements of prove, others, like Austria do not. In any case a careful valuation by experts is needed. It is the same for SMEs that want to depose patents as security for loans. British banks accept this already, in most other countries it is difficult to receive funds on IP.
As part of its convergence program EPO invited national patent offices, and as observers WIPO, epi and BusinessEurope regarding transfer of legal ownership of patent applications/patents. IPCC participated in this “Convergence of practice working group10” to draft common practice as regards practices concerning assignment of patents“. The result shall be submitted to EPO Administrative Council in March.
IPCC further attended the first meeting of epi Board with EUIPO in Alicante in January. It appeared that EUIPO is performing various courses and seminars not only for trademarks.
Three members of IPCC form part of the new ad-hoc working group to promote the patent system and the profession composed by PEC, IPCC & Editorial. The formation took place in February.
IPCC assumed the organisation of the Vilnius Council Pre-seminar and an additional seminar for the regional public in the morning of the Council Friday. The new ad hoc working group will have a leading role here.
