11 February 2021

Webinar: New changes to the EPO Guidelines on description amendments: why it matters

When: Thursday 11 February | 15:00 – 16:00 (GMT)

Speakers: Hazel Ford & Andrew White


A new 2021 edition of the EPO Guidelines for Examination are to come into effect in March 2021, and one of the expected changes will be significant revisions regarding the requirement to amend the description for conformity with the claims. Based on our close collaboration with EPO Examiners, we understand that there will be stricter requirements to delete or explicitly disclaim embodiments that do not form part of the claimed subject matter. As the description can be used to interpret the claims, any amendments made to the description may have a significant impact on post-grant opposition or national litigation proceedings. For example, does the deletion of alternatives, or the insertion of an explicit disclaimer, have consequences for how the doctrine of equivalents may be applied and thereby the scope of the claims? Could amendment of the description also affect the breadth of a claim thereby rendering the claims susceptible to potential added matter attacks?

In this webinar, our speakers will discuss the implications of the upcoming changes through the use of mock examples to try and identify some of the pitfalls that may be created as a result of the new changes.


This event has now passed – click here to download a copy of the webinar recording.

For queries, please email [email protected].