IP Summit Patents / Brussels

Description

Certainty

This is one word you want to hear when it comes to patents. It is also one of the concepts that have given life to the America Invents Act. On the legal and IP side, certainty means less bad patents which can get invalidated when they are brought to courts. On the business side, certainty adds value in raising attractiveness for potential buyers and licensors. So, whether you're planning to enter M&A deals or to enforce your rights, you need related patents to be appropriately asserted.

Now the bad news is that outside of a legal framework, uncertainty is nearly everywhere. First, the economic climate remains weak. Period. Second, the patent systems don't always live up to the expectations in many countries, including some of the BRICS which are attracting lots of investments. Sure the number of patent applications in China has risen by 33% last year, while the same index in Brazil and India has also grown by two-digit percentage figures. But do these systems provide the same level of confidence than in Europe and the U.S.? Which ones are safe havens? How can you work out solutions to protect your IP in these places? Let's hear what our speakers will have to say.

Third, uncertainty sometimes is also set within the legal framework, even in the most developed countries. Let's provide an example. Antitrust, which is a state function, generally tells that monopolies should be fought. Patents, which are also granted by states, are monopolies. What should be decided now? Reasonably, an appropriate balance must be sought. The IP Summit will be naturally open to such debates, in order to help resolve as much controversies as possible.