Running for a good purpose – company run 2024 in Berlin, Bremen and Munich with BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT

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In Berlin, Bremen and Munich, committed partners and employees of the law firm run for the benefit of charitable projects and organizations.

Despite the wintry cold, strong wind and heavy downpours, numerous partners and employees are once again at the start of the company runs in Berlin and Bremen this year. In Munich, on the other hand, the participants were able to enjoy sunshine and a pleasant 23 degrees outside.

In Berlin, the BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT team is one of 1053 that collected donations for Médecins Sans Frontières as part of the 22nd IKK BB Berlin company run.

DKMS is the focus of the fundraising campaign at the 8th B2Run in Bremen and Munich. In the Hanseatic city, 8,700 running enthusiasts are involved in 434 charity teams for a good cause.
The campaign is met with even more enthusiasm in the Bavarian capital in glorious summer weather. Here, 20,000 runners and more than 1,500 companies take part in the event.

To reduce the CO2 footprint of the B2Run running series, the organizer is also making a climate protection contribution in the form of a hydropower project in India together with First Climate. In addition, a tree will be planted in Ethiopia for each team in cooperation with the Menschen für Menschen foundation.

Gruppenfoto des B2Run-Teams, das für BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT in 2024 in Bremen an den Start ging
Gruppenfoto des B2Run-Teams, das für BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT in 2024 in Bremen an den Start ging

Mitarbeiter von BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT in Laufshirts beim B2Run München 2024 auf der Wiese vor dem Olympiastadion.
Mitarbeiter von BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT in Laufshirts beim B2Run München 2024 auf der Wiese vor dem Olympiastadion.

Prof. Dr. Goddar, Dr. Xia Pfaffen­zeller and Melanie Müller are patent experts at the China IP SME Help­desk of the European Commission

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In addition to BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT partner and patent attorney Prof. Dr. Heinz Goddar and patent attorney Dr. Xia Pfaffenzeller, both of whom have been patent experts in the China IP SME Helpdesk program of the European Commission for some time, attorney at law Melanie Müller has now also been appointed a “standing patent expert” of the China IP SME Helpdesk.

About China IP SME Helpdesk

The China IP SME Helpdesk helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union and the other countries of the Single Market Program (SMP) to protect and enforce their intellectual property rights in or in relation to mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan through the provision of free information and services. These take the form of jargon-free, first-line, confidential advice on intellectual property and related issues, plus training, materials and online resources.”

Felix Hermann, Patent Attorney at BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT

Felix Hermann reappointed to the SACEPO Working Party on Guidelines

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Personal appointment “ad personam” by the President of the European Patent Office, António Campinos.

For the second time, BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT patent attorney and partner Felix Hermann has been appointed to the Working Party on Guidelines of the Standing Advisory Committee to the European Patent Office (SACEPO). Prior to his first term of office on the Working Party on Guidelines, Felix served a member of the Working Party on Rules, in which proposals for changes to the legal framework of the EPC, including in particular its Implementing Regulations, are discuessed.

The 15 members of the SACEPO Working Party on Guidelines and representatives of the European Patent Office (EPO) discuss the annual revision of the Guidelines for Examination at the EPO and for Search and Examination at the EPO as PCT Authority (“Guidelines for Examination”). The Panel thus acts as a forum for discussion on proposed amendments to the next edition of the Guidelines for Examination and on current legal issues in case law.

ABOUT SACEPO

SACEPO is the main advisory body of the European Patent Office. It comprises representatives of IP and industry associations from around the world, as well as European and international patent attorney associations. Thanks to the Committee, the European Patent Office is close to its users in order to better respond to their needs and the changing requirements and conditions of a dynamic and global patent system.

For further information on the work of the EPO Standing Advisory Committee and its working groups please visit the website of the EPO.

Dr. Ute Kilger and Dr. Sebastian Engels significantly involved in negotiations on model contract clauses for clinical research

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Mandated by Deutsche Hochschulmedizin e. V., the two partners of the law firm have been involved since 2019 in the negotiations for the development of guidelines for the drafting of contracts for clinical trials with medicinal products. The model contract clauses 2.0 have been available since the end of 2023.

In terms of the number of clinical research studies, Germany is currently at risk of losing ground to leading countries such as Spain and France. One of the main reasons identified for this is the comparatively long time it takes to negotiate contracts between study sponsors, usually pharmaceutical companies, and trial centers, e.g. medical practices or clinics. A frequent point of contention in contract negotiations is the assignment of rights to inventions and the question of whether additional remuneration is to be paid for the transfer of inventions. It is not uncommon for such test centers to be university hospitals that are financed by public funds, which means that state aid regulations also play a role.

However, lengthy contract negotiations hamper innovation in Germany, deter study sponsors, cost money and delay the market launch of important drugs.

To avoid these delays, sample contract clauses for drafting contracts for clinical trials with medicinal products were published back in May 2019 – by “Deutsche Hochschulmedizin e. V.”, the “KKS-Netzwerk” (“Koordinierungszentren für klinische Studien KKS and Zentren für klinische Studien ZKS”), the pharmaceutical associations vfa and BPI as well as the BVMA (Bundesverband Medizinischer Auftragsinstitute e. V.).

At the end of 2023, after lengthy negotiations, a further developed version was published, supplemented by the frequently controversial topics of “data protection” and “inventions/property rights in the context of clinical trials”. It is intended to help speed up the drafting of contracts between commercial sponsors, trial centers and any third parties with practical recommendations. Other associations, such as the BPI (Bundesverband der Pharmazeutischen Industrie) and the BVMA (Bundesverband Medizinischer Auftragsinstitute BVMA e. V.) have also signed up to the further developed model contract clauses 2.0.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)The BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT partners Dr. Ute Kilger, patent attorney, and Dr. Sebastian Engels, attorney at law, have been significantly involved in the negotiations on the drafting of the extended model contract clauses relating to IP rights since 2019. The attorneys were mandated by Deutsche Hochschulmedizin e. V.

FCBA Global Fellows Program from 6 to 10 March 2024 in Munich with the participation of Dr. Michael Rüberg

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The long-established exchange program for the next generation of leading patent infringement lawyers of the Federal Circuit Bar Association (FCBA), the “Global Fellows Series”, will take place in 2024 from 6 to 10 March at the Haus der Bayerischen Wirtschaft in Munich. Numerous speakers from the business world as well as from the judiciary and legal profession are expected to attend.

The international participants selected as part of an application process can also look forward to a number of highlights this year: there will be a mock trial led by the judges of the UPC Local Chamber in Munich, as well as a meeting with various other high-ranking judges and company representatives. The program also includes visits to the EPO, DPMA and the Central Chamber of the UPC, participation in an oral hearing as well as various lectures and discussions with experienced patent practitioners.

As Chair of the FCBA’s Global Fellows Committee, BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT partner and attorney at law Dr. Michael Rüberg will lead the event in Germany together with other colleagues from the legal profession.

For more information about the FCBA Global Fellows Program, please visit the Federal Circuit Bar Association website.

Berlinale 2024: Producers’ Brunch with keynote speaker Dr. Martin Schaefer a complete success

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Overwhelming interest from more than 350 participants on February 21 at the Brandenburg State Representation to the Federal Government.

„Die aktuellen US Guild Agreements und künstliche Intelligenz – Blue Print für die Filmproduktionslandschaft in Deutschland und Europa?“ (The current US Guild Agreements and artificial intelligence – blue print for the film production landscape in Germany and Europe?) was the topic of this year’s Producers’ Brunch as part of the 74th Berlin International Film Festival.

The topic met with such great interest that the large venue was completely over-booked.

BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT partner and lawyer Dr. Martin Schaefer introduced the morning with a detailed keynote speech. Prof. Dr. Jan Bernd Nordemann (NORDEMANN) as a moderator then guided a discussion between Sven Gronemeyer (UFA SERIAL DRAMA GmbH), screenwriter Oliver Schütte and Dr. Julia Schafdecker (SKW Schwarz).

All participants used the subsequent brunch for a lively exchange about the current challenges facing the film industry.

The producers’ brunch is organized annually by medianet berlinbrandenburg e. V. as part of the Berlinale – in cooperation with the Brandenburg State Representation to the Federal Government and the IP law firms BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT and NORDEMANN.

 

Fee increase by the European Patent Office

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The European Patent Office will increase its fees as of April 1, 2024. For most of the fees, the increase is by about 5%. However, for some of the fees the increase is up to 30%, such as for the third and fourth annuities.
The EPC allows paying annuities up to three months in advance of the due date. If fees are paid before April 1, 2024, the current lower fees will apply.

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Analysis by Dr. Florian Schwab on the EUIPO’s refusal to register Porsche’s sound mark is the most read legal update in 2023 on WTR Daily

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The article “EUIPO refuses to register Porsche’s sound mark” by BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT partner and lawyer Dr. Florian Schwab was named the most popular “Legal Update” of the renowned IP portal in 2023 by WTR Daily. The online portal posts daily articles on relevant decisions in trademark law from the most important countries worldwide.

In the online article published on September 7, 2023, Dr. Schwab analyzes the rejection by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) of the EU trademark application filed by car manufacturer Porsche for a sound mark in the form of an electronic sound sequence. In its decision, the EUIPO found that the artificial reproduction of an accelerating engine for the claimed motor vehicles and digital services had no distinctive character. Rather, the sound would be perceived as typical for these claimed goods and services and would not constitute “striking or memorable elements”.

Dr. Florian Schwab’s article is available in full to registered users of WTR Daily here.

Trade Secrets Throughout the World 2023/2024 – first edition published with Prof. Goddar and Melanie Müller as editors

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At the end of December 2023, the first edition of “Trade Secrets Throughout the World” (TSTW) 2023/2024 was published under the editorship of BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT partner and patent attorney Prof. Dr. Heinz Goddar and Melanie Müller, attorney at law at BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT.

In January 2023, Prof. Goddar and Melanie Müller succeeded the late Melvin F. Jager, Past-President LESI, who had been the editor of the standard work for many years. TSTW 2023/2024 is published by Thomson Reuters and is available under ISBN 978-1-731-95271-4 both in hardback and as an e-book.

BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT Bremen in new premises from December 15, 2023

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Relocation to new building at Hildegard-von-Bingen-Straße 5 in the immediate vicinity of the University of Bremen

Even the most charming building can become too small for an ambitious team. This is what happened in the Art Deco villa built at the beginning of the 20th century at the founding location of BOEHMERT & BOEHMERT Bremen at Hollerallee 32.

Alternative premises were sought and found to accommodate a larger space requirement. From December 15, 2023, you will find us in a newly constructed building at Hildegard-von-Bingen-Straße 5 in 28359 Bremen.

Our new location has parking spaces but is also ideally connected to local transport due to its proximity to the University of Bremen. Streetcar line no. 6 and bus lines 24, 21, 22, 28, 31, 630 and 370 stop at “Universität Süd” or “Lise-Meitner-Straße”.

We look forward to welcoming you to our new premises soon!