EPO Patent Oppositions

Unrivalled success rate in EPO patent oppositions

No other IP firm has our depth of expertise over such a wide range of technologies

Where your freedom to operate is compromised, attacking the patent centrally through the EPO opposition procedure is one way to get other companies’ patents across Europe revoked. Marks & Clerk is one of the largest IP firms in Europe. Not only do we have people with detailed technical knowledge, but we are able to oppose or defend portfolios of dozens of patents simultaneously. And our success rate far exceeds that of the average European patent law firm.

Technical and legal expertise

At Marks & Clerk, we have a team of highly experienced oppositions specialists who will collaborate with your usual patent attorneys on opposition cases. This combination of expertise gives your opposition a far higher chance of success.

Our attorneys have deep understanding across many technologies including areas such as life sciences, software development, AI and 3D printing.

Our experience of working with searching tools and external searchers is invaluable in identifying relevant prior art, which forms the basis for many successful oppositions.

Specialists

for the result you need

Philip Martin

Partner Chartered (UK) and European Patent Attorney

Philip heads the electronics patents practice in our Cambridge office.

Anne Rivière

Principal Associate CEIPI (Patents, Trade Marks and Designs) French, Belgian, Luxembourgish and European Patent Attorney

Anne is a Luxembourg IP Attorney and a French, Belgian and European Patent Attorney with experience in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and also medical devices.

Tim Watkin

Partner Chartered (UK), European and Registered (SG) Patent Attorney

Tim handles patents and some registered designs, mainly for clients in the electronics, computing, bioinformatics and internet industries.

Outstanding success rate

Our success rate far exceeds that of the average European patent law firm. Recently, for example, we worked for a high-tech client opposing a portfolio of more than 70 patents. Marks & Clerk achieved revocation of 63% of them. This compares with an industry-average of only 27%. Our success rate was almost three times greater than the average European patent attorney firm. Only 16% of the patents we opposed survived without narrowing amendments, compared to an EPO average of 31%.

Industry-leading litigation and licensing expertise

Our London-based team of IP lawyers are industry leaders in patent litigation and licensing. Where these skills are required – such as when a patentee seeks a settlement – we can add one of our solicitors to the team. By creating these multidisciplinary teams in-house, as opposed to engaging an external law firm, we can dramatically reduce cost and increase the chance of success.

Latest Insights

Insight

- 18 November 2021

M&C Reacts: Our analysis of the forthcoming change to UK trademark challenges

On 26 November 2021 the UKIPO is implementing a change to practice for ongoing UK trade mark challenges based on EU TM rights

Insight

- 17 November 2021

Ferrari proves Unregistered Community Designs can subsist in parts of a product

UK and EU laws state that a design may be asserted in the appearance of the whole or a part of a product. On this basis, designers therefore have the choice of deliberately disclaiming features of the product to which the design is applied and for which they do not wish to seek protection.

News

- 16 November 2021

Marks & Clerk voted one of Canada’s best law firms!

Marks & Clerk is delighted to have been recognised by Canadian national newspaper, The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business, as one of Canada’s Best Law Firms - 2022!