Practical Advice for Combating Inventive Step Rejections in the U.S. and at the EPO

The requirements for inventive step in Europe and non-obviousness in the U.S. have many similarities but also some subtle differences. In most cases, you might expect similar results, but you can end up with very different outcomes. With global patenting strategies, companies often struggle to ensure consistency when prosecuting applications to grant in both jurisdictions.

In this webinar, we shall look closely at obviousness at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), inventive step at the European Patent Office (EPO), how they are both assessed and how objections can be overcome. This panel will explore what works for combating objections at one of these patent offices and why it may not necessarily work at the other, strategies that can work for both, as well as additional approaches to consider in both jurisdictions.

Please join us for this detailed analysis and discussion of these two giants of patent prosecution. Discussion topics will include:

• Review of the similarities and differences between EPO assessment of inventive step and USPTO assessment of obviousness
• Strategies for overcoming obviousness objections at the USPTO
• Strategies for overcoming inventive step objections at the EPO
• What works for one but does not work for the other
• What works for one and could work for the other

Moderator:

Michele C. Bosch

Speakers:

Bryan C. Diner
Leythem A. Wall

Date:
Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Time: 

15:00 - 16:00 GMT
16:00 - 17:00 CET
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. EDT