The European Patent Office epoline® Annual Conference 2005
The future of IP infrastructure in Europe

Munich/The Hague: The future of the Intellectual Property infrastructure in Europe and contributions on the epoline® products and services from the user's perspective will be the main subjects of the fourth epoline® Annual Conference, which will be held at the Athenaeum InterContinental hotel in Athens on 23-24 November 2005.

Around 400 patent professionals from all over Europe will come together and debate the latest developments in on-line patent management, information dissemination and role of electronic communication in European innovation and R&D.

One of the keynote presentations "Europe in a world of innovation and growth" will be presented by Mr. Carl Bildt, former Swedish prime minister. Against the background of the reform experience in the Nordic economies, in particular the fostering of competition and innovation in the use of telecommunications and other modern technologies, Carl Bildt will address the present economic situation in Europe.

The participants will also see various examples of the epoline® products and services presented from the user's perspective. For example, Eli Lilly and Company representatives will show how Eli Lilly´s European patent department has integrated the services provided by the EPO via epoline® into its everyday processes and practices. Hewlett-Packard will present an examination of the use of electronic applications in an intellectual property infrastructure, with the focus on the benefits and drawbacks for a "paperless" IP department, and HP´s experience in using and integrating epoline® applications in different countries.

The conference will consist of three parallel sessions: presentations, the hands-on workshops on epoline® and esp@cenet® to try out the European Patent Office's online products and services for themselves, as well as seminars on the patent granting procedure. All run separately in English, French and German by experienced EPO specialists.

Delegates will be able to choose the workshops, seminars, and discussion groups dealing with a wide spectrum of innovation issues in information technology. The conference will be of particular interest to patent applicants, attorneys, their administrative staff and others involved in the protection of Intellectual Property Rights.

The press conference will be formally opened at 12.30 by Mr. Alain Pompidou, President of the European Patent Office.

Press Conference:
Date: 23 November 2005
Time: 12.30
Venue: Athenaeum InterContinental Athens; 89-93 Syngrou Avenue; 117 45 Athens
Registration for journalists: http://www.isc-europe.com/workshop_03.php

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Media Contact:
Marta Czerniawska
ISC
Rue Wiertz, 50/28
B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
Tel.: +32 (0)2 401 61 47
Fax: +32 (0)2 401 68 68
Email: marta@isc-europe.com
http://www.isc-europe.com

Speakers
Mr. Tim Sebastian, Journalist, BBC World, UK
Mr. Dimitris Sioufas, Greek minister of development
Mr. Alain Pompidou, President of the European Patent Office
Mr. Athanassios Kaissis, President Administrative Council of the Greek Industrial Property Organisation
Mr. John Bambridge, Director of epoline®, European Patent Office
Mr. Bo-Göran Wallin, European patent attorney, Awapatent AB
Mr. Albert Wiedemann, European patent attorney, Siemens AG
Mr. David Rickard, European patent and trade mark attorney, iPulse
Mr. Carl Bildt, Former Swedish prime minister
Mr. Ioannis A. Tsoukalas, Professor, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Mr. Ivan Burnside, European patent counsel, Eli Lilly and Company
Mrs. Georgina Howard, Patent administrator, Eli Lilly and Company
Mrs. Shirin Elahi, Project leader, EPO Scenarios for the Future project
Mr. Alessandro Orsi, Senior counsel, IP, Hewlett-Packard
Mr. Ignatius K. Leong, EMEA supervisor, IP, Hewlett-Packard
Mr. Charilaos Katsichtis, Sale Manager, ARGO S.A.
Mr. Manuel Desantes, Vice-President, European Patent Office