30 July 2007

EPO productivity woes revealed

Emma Barraclough, London

Productivity levels at the EPO are less than half those at the UK and German national patent offices, according to a benchmarking study prepared by Ernst & Young

The study, carried out in cooperation with ManagementTeam and released last week, analyzes data patent searching and examination work done by the examiners at the three offices between September 2005 and August 2006. It compared the legal background and considers the different patent procedures used in each office but ignored non-examination work and quality-related considerations.

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EPO productivity woes revealed

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