European Commission asks industry and other stakeholders for their views on future patent policy

While the Community Patent remains a priority, the Commission is also seeking views on what measures could be taken in the near future to improve the patent system in Europe. The questionnaire is available at http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/indprop/docs/patent/consult_en.pdf and all interested stakeholders, including industry and individuals, are encouraged to reply by 31 March 2006.

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Internal Market and Services Commissioner Charlie McCreevy said: “Good intellectual property rules are essential: by stimulating innovation and leading to the successful development of new products, they help to generate growth and jobs. We want to maximise these benefits in Europe by making the single market for patents a reality. This is why I am asking businesses and individuals alike to give me their views on how we should move forward to achieve this. Meanwhile we will of course continue to strive for the Community Patent, which remains central to our policy.”

The feedback obtained from stakeholders will form the basis of a hearing, which the Commission intends to organise in Brussels on 13 June 2006.