In our technological society patent law plays a central role as an incentive for the development and marketing of new technologies in many fields of business. The number of patent applications continues to grow considerably every year. International and European conventions and other instruments have been implemented in order to simplify the application for and enforcement of patents and which also govern the scope of protection afforded by a patent in Europe. Others are being planned. This second edition of Concise European Patent Law aims to offer the reader a rapid understanding of all the provisions of patent law in force in Europe that have been enacted at the European and international levels. This volume takes the form of an article-by-article commentary on the European Patent Convention and the relevant European Community legislation and international treaties. It is intended to provide the reader with a short and straightforward explanation of the principles of law to be drawn from each provision, with references to the most important case law. Editors and authors are prominent specialists (both academics and practitioners) in the field of international and European patent law.Concise European Patent Law, second edition is one of a series of volumes of commentary on European Intellectual property legislation edited by Thomas Dreier, Charles Gielen and Richard Hacon, based on the respected German and Dutch series 'Kurzkommentar and Tekst en Commentaar.'

The United States, Germany, and Japan constitute the three most significant patent systems, but there is considerable variation in procedure and jurisprudence between them. A comparison of these systems for patent enforcement can illuminate historical pathways and contemporary conduits to address contemporary challenges and encourage the adoption of new legal ideas. This book provides a comprehensive guide to the extent of patent protection, validity challenges, enforcement procedures, and infringement remedies in these three major jurisdictions. By examining the major provisions of patent statutes and court decisions in these markets, it explores fundamental patent theories and principles, evaluates current systems, and proposes best practice for patent enforcement in developed, emerging, and frontier markets. Comparative analysis and historical jurisprudence of the three core paradigms in patent enforcement will to help readers to develop a more nuanced understanding of current systems and how a legal innovation in one jurisdiction is adopted in others. Authored by a team of academics and experienced patent practitioners, it provides invaluable first-hand experience and insightful discussion of patent jurisprudence that will be of great interest to academics, policy-makers and practitioners alike.