Full Description
The supplementary protection certificate (SPC) prolongs the term of patents for pharmaceutical products for a maximum of five additional years. The SPC's legal bases are two European SPC Regulations and the SPC is based upon European or national patents. SPCs protect some of the most valuable products in the pharmaceutical industry where each day of additional protection may be worth millions of Euros. Despite the economic relevance SPCs have obtained in recent years, there exists only limited detailed literature on the subject. German jurisprudence on SPCs is of special importance, as this has often been the basis for decisions of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and the German market is one of the leading markets for pharmaceuticals and thus for SPCs. This book is addressed to patent attorneys - in particular in-house and external - working for pharmaceutical companies, and attorneys-at-law specialising in patent law, especially in Europe but essentially worldwide.
Contents
PART I
GENERALS OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY PROTECTION CERTIFICATE IN THE EUROPEAN LAW
A. Purpose, History and Legal Character of the Certificate
B. Substantive Granting Prerequisites
C. Calculation of Term
D. Subject Matter and Scope of Protection
E. Rights, Limitations and Obligations
F. Grant Procedure
G. Expiry, Invalidity and Revocation
H. Remedies
PART II
SPECIALITIES IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS
I. The SPC in Germany
J. The SPC in the United Kingdom
K. The SPC in France
L. The SPC in Italy
M. The SPC in The Netherlands
N. The SPC in Switzerland
ANNEXES
Annex A: Selected Decisions of the European and Swiss Case Law
A1. Court of Justice of the European Union
A2. German Courts
A3. UK Courts
A4. French Courts
A5. Italian Courts
A6. Dutch Courts
A7. Swiss Courts
Annex B: Selected Legal Sources
B1. International Treaties
B2. European Primary Law
B3. European Regulations
B4. European Directives
B5. National Law
