Introduction: The anniversary Europe IP Focus The European Patent Convention is 40 years' old. To celebrate, Managing IP publishes a review of the EPC and its impact, alongside the regular regional articles of the Europe IP Focus
Analysing 40 years of the EPC: What has it done for us? In 1973, the signing of the European Patent Convention marked the birth of a period of unprecedented cooperation and change for patents in Europe. Forty years on, the next chapter in that story is about to begin with the launch of the EU unitary patent. James Nurton reports
Interview: Benoît Battistelli on 40 years of the EPC EPO President Benoît Battistelli explains why he is proud of the achievements of the EPC, discusses what challenges remain, and explains why the planned unitary patent is the fulfilment of the founders’ vision
The story of the EPC: a timeline How the European Patent Convention evolved, from its first suggestion to eventual fruition
Interview: Francis Gurry on the EPC at 40 WIPO Director General Francis Gurry discusses the international impact of the EPC, its relationship with the Patent Cooperation Treaty and its role in developing patent quality
Interview: Jesper Kongstad on the EPO's European spirit As chair of the Administrative Council, Jesper Kongstad takes a long-term view of the European Patent Organisation and its complex relationship with its contracting states
Seven organisations assess the impact of the EPC Managing IP?asks seven bodies closely involved with the European Patent Convention to reflect on its effects on everything from quality to general awareness of IP. And, of course, to suggest where it might be improved
Social media in Europe: tread softly online Lena Ericsson and Monika Colak of Valea examine how the rise of social media has changed legal strategies when enforcing IP rights
What the unitary patent will mean for business A long-awaited unitary patent system may be just around the corner. Adam Brandt, Ejvind Christiansen, Camilla Rendal Nielsen, Peggy Bengtsson and Marcus Amery of Zacco ask what the benefits and risks may be for applicants and businesses
How to file in the Faroe Islands and Greenland Mikael Mikkelsen, Troels Peter Rordam and Mette Bender of Awapatent offer advice for filing in the Faroe Islands and Greenland, where there is still some variation from Danish legislation
The German Supreme Court on multiple representations The German Supreme Court provides helpful guidance on determining the subject matter of a Community design: Henning Hartwig of Bardehle Pagenberg reports
A successful beginning for Italy’s new opposition system Donatella Prandin and Simone Verducci-Galletti of Bugnion look back on two years of the country’s new opposition system, and identify some interesting trends
Mexican and European filing compared Víctor Garrido and Karla Islas of Dumont Bergman Bider & Co offer a guide to Mexican and European filers hoping to streamline their application process in both jurisdictions
Utility models vs industrial designs in Poland Marta Skrobot of Patpol explains how IP owners should choose between protection under industrial design or utility model law
