Our colleagues Kateřina Hartvichová and Petra Fousková actively represent the Czech Republic within the European Patent Institute (epi) – the professional organisation of European Patent Attorneys, bringing together more than 14,000 members from the member states of the European Patent Organisation (EPO).
Both Kateřina and Petra serve on the epi Council, the Institute’s highest governing body, with Kateřina currently serving her second term as Vice-President of epi. Both are also active in epi’s specialised committees. Petra is a member of the European Patent Practice Committee, which focuses on practical matters relating to the European patent system, and the Professional Education Committee, which is dedicated to the professional education and qualification of European Patent Attorneys. Kateřina serves on the Committee for Biotechnological Inventions, where she contributes to professional discussions on patent protection in the field of biotechnology.
Active involvement in epi’s governing bodies provides an important opportunity to contribute to the development of European patent practice and the professional environment that directly shapes the daily work of European Patent Attorneys. Membership in the specialised committees also enables our colleagues to share experience and perspectives from Czech practice with professionals from across Europe, while bringing the latest European developments and insights back to the Czech Republic.
For the Czech Republic, the participation of Czech professionals in these bodies is particularly valuable as it enables them to contribute actively to discussions on the development of the European patent system and to bring the perspective of Czech applicants and patent attorneys to the European level. For HARBER, this involvement represents a valuable source of expertise, professional contacts and first-hand insight into developments in European patent practice.