“DESCRIPTION
This presentation will cover:

• The European approach to patents for computer implemented inventions. Following the decision in CLS Bank v Alice, should Europe be considered more favorably disposed to software patents than the US?

• Pre-action discovery. Some European countries have a very liberal approach to pre-action discovery and inspection. This can provide an effective vehicle to gather evidence of infringement that can be used in other jurisdictions such as the US.

• German without notice injunctions. In Germany, it is possible for a rights holder to obtain an injunction without prior notice to the injuncted party. This can provide valuable leverage in litigation in other jurisdictions.

• Threats of patent litigation can provide helpful leverage in US litigation – but if it is not done in the right way it can expose the maker of the threat to a damages claim.

• The anticipated European Unitary Patent Court will provide a single patent system for a market as big as the US market – might it provide an alternative to patent litigation in the US? – an update on the implementation of the court.

PANELISTS
Stefanie Greifeneder, Partner, Munich Office of Fieldfisher
Hakim Haouideg, Partner, Brussels Office of Fieldfisher
David Knight, Partner, London Office of Fieldfisher
Matt Smith, Partner, Turner Boyd”