INSIGHT epi - The podcast for European patent professionals

29 April 2025  |  The quality of a patent or an entire IP strategy depends very much on the quality of the information behind it.  This is when Patent Information Professionals or ‘searchers’ come into play. What types of searches do they conduct? How do you know that a searcher has the necessary expertise and experience? Bart van Wezenbeek speaks with Carla Scorsini and Bettina de Jong about the...

16 April 2025  |  Intellectual Property (IP) isn’t just a competitive advantage—it’s a foundational asset that every business should take seriously from the very beginning. In this episode, Claudia Duffy , Vilija Viešūnaitė , Juozas Nainys and Donatas Keras discuss how IP and its protection shape long-term value, support innovation, and help avoid costly mistakes. This episode also sets the stage...

02 April 2025  |  In this episode, epi president Peter Thomsen talks about the client-attorney privilege for European Patent Attorneys. What information is protected in the context of discovery proceedings? What are the limits of confidentiality? And what influence does the relevant legal situation have at national and international level?  Credits: Host: Sam Pittis Produced by WHS Learning Music...

19 March 2025  |  Electronic communication with the EPO is convenient and easy. For the most part. But what if a system doesn't work properly, perhaps resulting in a loss of rights? Or if a user journey is so simple that irrevocable facts are created pressing a single button? This is where the EPI's Online Communications Committee (OCC) comes in. In this episode, John Gray , Benjamin Gra...

05 March 2025  |  In this episode of our podcast series on UPC case law, Tilman Pfrang and Bart van Wezenbeek  talk about the issuance of anti-anti-suit injunctions. Another topic dealt with is confidentiality.  Credits: Host: Sam Pittis Produced by WHS Learning Music used in this episode: Listen by Andrewkn -- https://shorturl.at/ekqz1 -- License: Creative Commons 0, Road In The Forest by Andrewk...

19 February 2025  |  This time, Bart van Wezenbeek and Tilman Pfrang are revisiting a critical topic: Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) under the UPC framework. Recent UPC rulings have brought new clarity to SEP enforcement, licensing, and negotiation practices. Credits: Host: Sam Pittis Produced by WHS Learning Music used in this episode: Listen by Andrewkn -- https://shorturl.at/ekqz1 -- License...

05 February 2025  |  In this episode, Margaret Mackett and Nina Ferara talk about preparing for this year's European Qualifying Examination (EQE). The epi supports epi students and candidates with tutorials, mock papers and more.  Credits: Host: Sam Pittis Produced by WHS Learning Music used in this episode: Listen by Andrewkn -- https://shorturl.at/ekqz1 -- License: Creative Commons 0, Road...

22 Januar 2025  |  In this fourth episode of our series on UPC case law, Bart van Wezenbeek and Tilman Pfrang  talk about infringement by equivalence and the principle of bifurcation. Credits: Host: Sam Pittis Produced by WHS Learning Music used in this episode: Listen by Andrewkn -- https://shorturl.at/ekqz1 -- License: Creative Commons 0, Road In The Forest by Andrewkn -- https://shorturl.at/jrJ...

15 Januar 2025  |  In this first episode of our podcast this year, epi President Peter Thomsen and epi Vice-President Katerina Hartvichova give an overview of the most important topics for epi and the profession in 2025.  Credits: Host: Sam Pittis Produced by WHS Learning Music used in this episode: Listen by Andrewkn -- https://shorturl.at/ekqz1 -- License: Creative Commons 0, Road In The Forest...

18 December 2024  |  This is the third episode of a series on UPC case law, in which Bart van Wezenbeek , Tilman Pfrang and Christopher Stothers talk about the role of third party interests in UPC proceedings. Credits: Host: Sam Pittis Produced by WHS Learning Music used in this episode: Listen by Andrewkn -- https://shorturl.at/ekqz1 -- License: Creative Commons 0, Road In The Forest by Andrewkn...

11 December 2024  |  This (special) edition of our podcast is about a topic that will have a lasting impact on the way we work: Artificial intelligence. Martina Stork and Timothy Powell talk about the epi 's recently published guidelines for using generative AI.  Credits: Host: Sam Pittis Produced by WHS Learning Music used in this episode: Listen by Andrewkn -- https://shorturl.at/ekqz1 -- L...

04 December 2024  |  In this episode, Hans Blöchle and Angela Quinlan are  talking about one of the youngest epi committees, but one that deals with a topic that is as old as patents themselves: Commercialization.   Credits: Host: Sam Pittis Produced by WHS Learning Music used in this episode: Listen by Andrewkn -- https://shorturl.at/ekqz1 -- License: Creative Commons 0, Road In The Forest by And...

20 November 2024  |  In this last episode of our short podcast series on mental health and the patent profession, Sally Bannan , Tarik Kapic and Penelope Aspinall are talk more about two aspects that have been identified as especially stressful: managing deadlines and dealing with the pressure to perform. Credits: Host: Sam Pittis Produced by WHS Learning Music used in this episode: Listen by Andr...

06 November 2024  |  In this second episode of our short podcast series on mental health and what it has to do with our profession, Sally Bannan , Tarik Kapic and Penelope Aspinall talk about the European Qualifying Examination (EQE). Credits: Host: Sam Pittis Produced by WHS Learning Music used in this episode: Listen by Andrewkn -- https://shorturl.at/ekqz1 -- License: Creative Commons 0, Road I...

23 October 2024  |  This episode is the first in a three-part series on a delicate topic in our profession. Penelope Aspinall , Sally Bannan and Tarik Kapic talk about general aspects, such as stressors and prevention.  Credits: Host: Sam Pittis Produced by WHS Learning Music used in this episode: Listen by Andrewkn -- https://shorturl.at/ekqz1 -- License: Creative Commons 0, Road In The Forest by...

09 October 2024  |  This is the second episode of a series on case law coming out of the UPC. This time, Bart van Wezenbeek and Tilman Pfrang  will dive deep into some decisions where the question of inventive step played a major role.  Credits: Host: Sam Pittis Produced by WHS Learning Music used in this episode: Listen by Andrewkn -- https://shorturl.at/ekqz1 -- License: Creative Commons 0, Road...

03 October 2024  |  This year, we celebrate a remarkable milestone: the 40th anniversary of our members' journal, 'epi Information.' For four decades, this publication has been an important  resource for the profession. Together with Dieter Speiser , Renate Schellenberg , Marc Nevant and Sadia Liebig , we'll explore its history and take a closer look at how each issue is put to...

11 September 2024  |  This is the first episode of a series on case law coming out of the UPC. After a general introduction, Bart van Wezenbeek and Tilman Pfrang look back on the past year of orders and decisions, focussing today especially on preliminary measures.  Credits: Host: Sam Pittis Produced by WHS Learning Music used in this episode: Listen by Andrewkn -- https://shorturl.at/ekqz1 -- Lic...

31 July 2024  |  In this episode, Sara Morabito and Francis Leyder talk about the European Patent Administration Certification (EPAC). They discuss the purpose of the certification, its strategic importance, the content and technology of the upcoming exam - and how to prepare for it.  Credits: Host: Sam Pittis Produced by WHS Learning Music used in this episode: Listen by Andrewkn -- https://short...

July 17 2024  |  In this short episode, we would like to give you a few pointers on our own behalf. Jacqueline Kalbe , Barbara Riffert , Noreen Osterlehner and Samantha Adam from the epi Secretariat want to draw your attention to the training programmes for EQE candidates and members of the profession. Published 17 July 2024. Credits: Host: Sam Pittis Produced by WHS Learning Music used in this ep...

July 3 2024  |  In this episode, we deal with one of epi 's most important and visible committees: the Professional Education Committee, or PEC for short. Julia Gwilt and Tarik Kapić will talk about its history, its composition, its main tasks and the main challenges it has faced in recent years.  Credits: Host: Sam Pittis Produced by WHS Learning Music used in this episode: Listen by Andrewk...

19 June 2024  |  Most EQE candidates appreciate any support they can get, especially as the new system still raises new questions for everyone involved. This episode is aimed at supervisors:  Anna Valborg Guðmundsdóttir and Nina Ferara talk about what you can do and should know as a supervisor - and what kind of support the epi offers for EQE candidates. Credits: Host: Sam Pittis Produced by WHS L...

5 June 2024  |  What is actually assessed in each paper? What kind of questions can you expect to be asked? How long will the exams take? And how will they be marked? In this fourth episode of our five-part series on the new EQE, Nina Ferara and Anna Valborg Guðmundsdóttir reveal details about the new examination papers. Credits: Host: Sam Pittis Produced by WHS Learning Music used in this episode...

31 May 2024  |  The 1st of June, 2023 was the start of what we call for short the Unitary Patent or UP and the Unified Patent Court or UPC.  In this episode of  "Insight epi", we take a look back at the first year of the UP.  The conversation takes place between Francis Leyder and Manolis Samuelidis from epi with EPO representatives Heli Pihlajamaa and Stefan Luginbuehl. Credits: Host: S...

22 May 2024  |  Gradual introduction of the new EQE, gradual restriction of the old one, creditability of results between the systems: This episode looks at the transition that will take place, particularly in the years 2025-2027 - and the options open to candidates from the old and new systems. Credits: Host: Sam Pittis Produced by WHS Learning Music used in this episode: Listen by Andrewkn -- ht...