Ray Quinney & Nebeker shareholder Paul Taylor recently attended the 41st Annual US Bar–EPO Liaison Council Meeting, held on December 3, 2025, where representatives of the European Patent Office (EPO) and the US patent community gathered to discuss key developments affecting international patent practice.
Established in 1984, the US Bar–EPO Liaison Council serves as a forum for dialogue between the EPO and US applicants—the largest group of foreign filers at the EPO. The meeting focused on growth within the European patent system, quality initiatives, and evolving legal and technological considerations.
EPO President António Campinos reported that the Office is on track to receive 200,000 patent applications in a single year for the first time, while emphasizing new measures to enhance quality and consistency. He also highlighted the continued success of the Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court, noting strong and growing adoption by US applicants.
Since its launch in 2023, the Unitary Patent system has received more than 75,000 requests for unitary effect worldwide, with uptake by US innovators increasing from 11% in 2023 to nearly 20% in 2025. The system offers a more streamlined and cost-effective path to patent protection and enforcement across Europe.
The meeting also addressed the EPO’s digital transformation and human-centric AI policy, including the use of AI tools to support examiners while maintaining transparency and accountability. Additional discussions covered topics of particular interest to US applicants, such as AI-assisted inventions, claim interpretation following decision G 1/24, and pending guidance on adaptation of the description.
These developments underscore the importance for US companies to stay informed as European patent practice continues to evolve.
Read the full article from EPO here.