This handbook presents a comprehensive view of substantive patent law in a European and international context. German patent law is used as an example of a mature patent law regime. The handbook covers the following subjects:

• Introduction
• Invention and their amenability to patent protection
• Ownership
• Patent transfer and licensing
• Grant and rejection of patents
• Interpretation and scope of protection of patents
• Chemical and biological inventions
• Use of a patent Defences
• Legal consequences of patent infringement
• European Patent and European Patent Court
• Other proceedings and claims in patent cases
• The law of utility models
• The supplementary protection certificate

This handbook is edited by Dr Maximilian Haedicke, Professor of IP law at the University of Freiburg and judge at the Düsseldorf Regional Court of Appeal;
Dr Henrik Timmann is patent litigator in Düsseldorf.
The authors are patent attorneys, patent litigators, and judges with a deep knowledge in patent law in Germany, Europe and worldwide.

‘In light of the recent establishment of a Unified Patent Court, this handbook gains momentum and serves as a detailed and reliable tool for the anticipated rennaissance of Patent Law.’
Apostolos Anthimos, in: Armenopoulos, 2014, 10