Key points
- A bit hidden on the EPO website, the Boards' annual report for 2025 was published.
- "The number of pending cases older than 24 months decreased from 729 at the end of December 2024 to 234 at the end of December 2025." In 2020, there were 4208 pending cases older than 24 months. The share of backlog cases (older than 24 months) decreased from ~ 50 % in 2021 to 10.5% in December 2025.
- "The technical boards of appeal received 1,477 cases in 2025 (20 fewer than in 2024) and settled 2,646 cases". The number of incoming cases was stable.
- The improvement in timeliness and the backlog clearance is absolutely impressive.
- "In the context of his reappointment, the PBoA outlined the following priorities for what will be his third term: addressing the challenges arising from the incoming workload level, ensuring the smooth relocation of the BoA to the centre of Munich, modernising the BoA's case management system and fostering the harmonisation of procedural and patent law."
- "The PBoA has mandated a task force to propose timeliness objectives applicable as of 2027. The task force is composed of members and chairpersons of the BoA, as well as representatives from Administrative Services"
- I hope that user organisations will be involved in a later stage.
- For example, it may be good to set a target for clearing cases older than 24 months, e.g., that all cases older than 30 or 36 months are individually monitored at the BoA management level for progress.
- The report contains no information about the pendency's starting point. It may be the receipt of the respondent's reply in inter partes opposition cases, but I don't know for sure.
- The report contains only a brief statement about the EBA's handling of petition for review cases: more cases were cleared than were received. That was indeed quite an achievement last year.
- On a separate note, 4.0% of cases are in French, and about 20-25% are in German.
EPO
The link to the document is provided after the jump.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Do not use hyperlinks in comment text or user name. Comments are welcome, even though they are strictly moderated (no politics). Moderation can take some time.