With our third European Patent Conference we look again into means of enhancing the patent system in Europe. With the planned Community Patent and the European Patent Court in stormy waters and intense debate on the future patent framework in the EU under the French presidency, patent policy stays an ever amazing, controversial field.

• How to migrate the European patent policy toward the EU?
• Can machine translation overcome the language controversy?
• How to reduce costs and access barriers to patent jurisdiction?
• What is actually patent quality?
• What can we learn from the Alicante office OHIM?
• …
• What matters to you in your field of patent expertise.

The upcoming EUPACO-3 conference is set up as an ad-hoc gathering born from the desire for participants to share in an open environment. No formal agenda or speaker list will be finalized before the meeting. Rather participants are invited to take the floor and present their topical issues under a tight time schedule. Room for discussions is offered.

The concept of "bar conferences" was 'invented' by the technologists community few years ago and is rapidly spreading across the world. It provides a less formal and more efficient way to present to others what you have to tell.

Speakers are participants who want to present and registered on sight for a speaking slot. They would normally grant members of the audience the possibility to ask questions and answer them. A speaking slot would normally comprise 15-20 minutes.

Date and Location

Date: Tuesday 3rd June, 2008
Time: 10:00 to 17:00 + drinks
Location: De Markten, Oude Graanmarkt 5, 1000 Brussels (Google maps), http://www.demarkten.be/

Programme

09:00-10:00 – Eupaco Breakfast for early arrivals

Coffee, tea, fruit juice, and croissants will be served.

10:00-12:30 - Community Patent: EU in the EPO, or EU in the EPO?

12:30-14:00 - Lunch Break

No lunch will be served by the EUPACO team, but you can have lunch in the area at bars and restaurants.

14:00-17:00 - Patent Litigation in Europe: on the road to Texas?

17:00-21:00 - Evening Reception

Notes

• Drinks and snacks will be provided all day
• A limited number of places are available, register to guarantee your place

Interactivity

You can send questions via email.

Registration

We will not charge an entrance fee to the EUPACO-3, but your prior registration is appreciated. Please also indicate your interests for talks.

Public transport

Access from airport: take the train connection to Gare Centrale, then walk west downtown through the Grand Place to Boulevard Anspach.
Access from Gare du Midi: take the metro to Bourse or Brouckere.