A niche blog dedicated to the issues that arise when supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) extend patents beyond their normal life -- and to the respective positions of patent owners, investors, competitors and consumers. The blog also addresses wider issues that may be of interest or use to those involved in the extension of patent rights. You can email The SPC Blog here

Friday 26 February 2016

Difficult Questions, Important Answers...


The title of this post could be a summary of the issues facing the UK in the referendum on EU membership but, in fact, is a new article by Mike Snodin that he has published discussing the questions posed in the latest case at the CJEU (C-572/15, F. Hoffmann la Roche).  A copy of Mike’s article, entitled “Difficult Questions, Important Answers: The Latest Case on SPCs”, can be viewed here


Mike’s article discusses two possible ways in which the CJEU could answer the questions posed without contravening principles relating to legal certainty.  It also explains reasons why the answers that the CJEU provides are likely to attract significant interest, including from outside of the sphere of the law on SPCs.