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Connecting with the innovative industry: kick-off for the exchange format DPMAimpuls

Series of events for the user group “large companies and Mittelstand firms very active in terms of applications filed” – focus on the European Unitary Patent and patent quality – DPMA President: We take care of our customers’ concerns with conscientiousness.

Press release of 26 July 2023

Munich. On the occasion of the start of its new event format DPMAimpuls today, the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) held meetings with representatives of industry and major Mittelstand firms (small and mid-sized, often family-owned businesses) for an informal exchange of views. The main topics were the newly introduced European Unitary Patent and patent quality. Dr Maria Skottke-Klein, Head of the Directorate General Patents and Utility Models at the DPMA, emphasised the benefits of the German patent. Tobias Pichlmaier, Presiding Judge at the Munich Higher Regional Court and judge at the Unitary Patent Court, gave a lecture on the reorganisation of the patent court system. Daniel Maier, of Siemens AG and a member of the Association of Intellectual Property Experts (Vereinigung von Fachleuten des Gewerblichen Rechtsschutzes), spoke about the use of national and European protection options from the point of view of his company. Detlev-Georg Schmidt-Bilkenroth, Deputy Director General Patents and Utility Models at the DPMA, and Dr Alissa Zeller, BASF AG and chairwoman of the Committee for Intellectual Property and Copyright of the Federation of German Industries (Ausschuss für Gewerblichen Rechtsschutz und Urheberrecht des Bundesverbandes der Deutschen Industrie), gave a lecture on various aspects of patent quality.

With the new series of events, the DPMA intends to offer another exchange format specifically aimed at large companies and Mittelstand firms very active in terms of applications filed, in addition to the DPMAnutzerforum, the annual main event, and the User Advisory Council (DPMAnutzerbeirat), an advisory body where all user groups of the Directorate General Patents and Utility Models are represented by agents and that holds regular meetings. “We hope that a jointly organised, informal round table discussion will allow us to connect even more effectively with the innovative industry. Furthermore, we aim to strengthen our customers’ trust that, to the extent legally possible, we take care of their needs and concerns with conscientiousness and great commitment,” DPMA President Eva Schewior said, and added: “We appreciate the suggestions of our customers. We will continue our established and very successful formats, and we are sure that they will benefit from the exchange in the course of DPMAimpuls.”

After today’s kick-off event, the aim is to further develop DPMAimpuls. The DPMA intends to make as few requirements as possible for the respective format and the agenda. It is intended that the user group is involved considerably in the decision-making concerning the selection of topics, the participating experts and lecturers and the type of the events.

The German Patent and Trade Mark Office

Inventiveness and creativity need effective protection. The DPMA is the German centre of expertise for all intellectual property rights – patents, utility models, trade marks and designs. As the largest national patent office in Europe and the fifth largest national patent office in the world, our office stands for the future of Germany as a country of inventors in a globalised economy. Its staff of just under 2,800 at three locations – Munich, Jena and Berlin – provide services to inventors and companies. They implement federal innovation strategies and develop the national, European and international protection systems.

Pictures: DPMA

Last updated: 26 July 2023