The aim of this paper is to investigate the causal effect of a recent attempt undertaken by the EPO to improve the quality of the patent granting process. To do so we examine a policy change that aimed at including the information revealed during the standardisation-setting process into the...

The abrupt nature of the COVID-19 pandemic sent the pharmaceutical industry on their heels in a race against time in procurement of a vaccine for the novel corona virus. Consequently, it has sparked off several issues and debates as to whether the research conducted by pharmaceuticals should...

One feature of the European patent system that is heavily criticized nowadays is related to its complex fragmentation and the induced cost burden for applicants. Once a patent is granted by the EPO, the assignee must validate (and often translate) it and pay the renewal fees to keep it in force...