The latest Quality Action Plan from the European Patent Office introduces a range of targeted actions and initiatives to continue delivering high quality patents that provide legal certainty to users.
New key priorities for 2025 are:
To keep examiners up to date with the latest developments in their area of technology by having technology community forums. Bringing together leading researchers to present and discuss with examiners.
To continue to leverage the latest AI technologies to support examiners in the correct and consistent application of the European Patent Convention (EPC) and Guidelines.
Active Search Divisions will remain the foundation for efforts to improve the completeness and accuracy of searches and written opinions.
To further harmonise work practices and safeguard the consistent application of European patent law, focusing on consistently assessing inventive step, clarity and the scope of claims, substantiating the objections raised, making Unified Patent Court case law more accessible to examiners, improving consistency in the handling of third-party observations while also focusing on continuously enhancing the online user services offered in MyEPO.
Improve EPO User Feedback Channels, by meeting with applicants and user associations, expanding SME and micro-outreach programmes.
The full article can be found on the EPO website:
https://www.epo.org/en/about-us/services-and-activities/quality/quality-action-plan
