EuEpla

Projet d'unification des juridictions relatives aux litiges sur les brevets en Europe

Recherche dans le registre des documents du Conseil de l'UE sur l'expression "patents court" Recherche dans le registre des documents du Conseil de l'UE sur le mot "patent"

Documents officiels

Documents de travail

• 04/04/2007 : 8302/07, Communication de la Commission au Parlement européen et au Conseil, Améliorer le système de brevet en Europe
• 23/04/2007 : 8566/07, Commission Communication on enhancing the patent system in Europe, Presidency questionnaire
• 15/06/2007 : 10710/1/07 REV 1, Progress Report from Presidency to COREPER I, Enhancing the patent system in Europe (discussions in the Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents) on 3 and 11 May and 1 June 2007)
• 12/07/2007 : 11622/07, Working Document from Presidency to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Towards an Enhanced Patent Litigation System and a Community Patent, How to Take Discussions Further
• 10/10/2007 : 13675/07, Working Document from Presidency to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Towards an Enhanced Patent Litigation System and a Community Patent, Points for discussion
• 12/10/2007 : 13878/07, Working Document from German delegation to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), The Separation of Invalidity and Infringement Proceedings and the Use of Technical Judges in a European Patent Court System
• 30/10/2007 : 14492/07, Working Document from Presidency to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Towards an Enhanced Patent Litigation System and a Community Patent, Points for discussion
• 09/11/2007 : 14912/07, Progress Report from Presidency to COREPER I, Enhancing the patent system in Europe (discussions in the Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents) on 20 July, 17 October and 7 November 2007)
• 15/11/2007 : 15162/07, Progress Report from Presidency to Council (Competitiveness), Enhancing the patent system in Europe
• 11/01/2008 : 5245/08, Working Document from Presidency to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), EU Patent Jurisdiction, Remedies, procedures and other measures
• 04/02/2008 : 5954/08, Working Document from Presidency to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), EU Patent Jurisdiction, Main features of the Court system (first part); Remedies, procedures and other measures (second part)
• 27/02/2008 : 7001/08, Working Document from Presidency to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), EU Patent Jurisdiction, Main features of the Court system (first part); Remedies, procedures and other measures (second part)
• 19/03/2008 : 7728/08, Working Document from Presidency to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), European Union Patent Jurisdiction - Preliminary Set of Provisions for the future legal instrument
• 14/05/2008 : 9124/08, Working Document from Presidency to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Draft Agreement on the European Union Patent Judiciary
• 22/05/2008 : 9473/08, Progress Report from Presidency to Council (Competitiveness), Enhancing the patent system in Europe
• 30/06/2008 : 11270/08 Document partiellement accessible au public, Opinion of the legal service to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Draft Agreement on the European Union Patent Judiciary - compatibility of the draft Agreement with the EC Treaty - possible request to the EC Court of Justice for an opinion (Article 300(6) EC)
• 04/11/2008 : 14970/08, Working Document from Presidency to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Draft Agreement on the European Union Patent Court and draft Statute
• 10/11/2008 : 15487/08 Document partiellement accessible au public, Opinion of the legal service to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Draft Agreement on the European Union Patent Judiciary - compatibility of the draft Agreement with the EC Treaty - possible request to the EC Court of Justice for an opinion (Article 300(6) EC)
• 11/11/2008 : 15487/08 COR 1 Document non accessible au public, Corrigendum of the Opinion of the legal service to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Draft Agreement on the European Union Patent Judiciary - compatibility of the draft Agreement with the EC Treaty - possible request to the EC Court of Justice for an opinion (Article 300(6) EC)
• 14/11/2008 : 15674/08, Progress Report from Presidency to Permanent Representatives Committee (Part 1), Enhancing the patent system in Europe, (a) Proposal for a Regulation on the Community patent (b) Draft Agreement on the European Union Patent Court
• 21/11/2008 : 16006/08, Progress Report from Presidency to Council (Competitiveness), Enhancing the patent system in Europe, (a) Proposal for a Regulation on the Community patent (b) Draft Agreement on the European Union Patent Court
• 08/01/2009 : 5072/09, Working Document from Presidency to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Draft Agreement on the European and Community Patents Court and Draft Statute
• 23/03/2009 : 7927/09, Recommendation from the Commission to the Council to authorise the Commission to open negotiations for the adoption of an Agreement creating a Unified Patent Litigation System
• 23/03/2009 : 7928/09, Working Document from General Secretariat of the Council to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Draft Agreement on the European and Community Patents Court and Draft Statute - Revised Presidency text
• 24/04/2009 : 9076/09 Document partiellement accessible au public], Note from Presidency to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Request for an opinion by the European Court of Justice on the compatibility with the EC Treaty of the envisaged Agreement creating a unified patent litigation system
• 08/05/2009 : 9550/09, Note from Presidency to Permanent Representatives Committee (Part 1), Preparation of the Competitiveness Council of 28 - 29 May 2009 Enhancing the patent system in Europe (c) Request for an opinion by the European Court of Justice on the compatibility with the EC Treaty of the envisaged Agreement creating a Unified Patent Litigation System - Agreement in principle
• 08/05/2009 : 9549/09, Progress Report from Presidency to Permanent Representatives Committee (Part 1), Preparation of the Competitiveness Council of 28 - 29 May 2009 Enhancing the patent system in Europe (a) Proposal for a Regulation of the Council on the Community patent (b) Draft Agreement creating a Unified Patent Litigation System
• 12/05/2009 : 9794/09 Document non accessible au public, Note from General Secretariat to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Questions from Cyprus to the European Court of Justice concerning the compatibility of the envisaged Agreement creating a unified patent litigation system
• 18/05/2009 : 9668/09, Progress Report from Presidency to Council (Competitiveness), Preparation of the Competitiveness Council of 28 - 29 May 2009 Enhancing the patent system in Europe (a) Proposal for a Regulation of the Council on the Community patent (b) Draft Agreement creating a Unified Patent Litigation System
• 18/05/2009 : 9669/09, Note from Permanent Representatives Committee (Part 1) to Council (Competitiveness), Enhancing the patent system in Europe (c) Request for an opinion by the European Court of Justice on the compatibility with the EC Treaty of the envisaged Agreement creating a Unified Patent Litigation System - Agreement in principle
• 05/06/2009 : 10718/09 Document non accessible au public, Note from General Secretariat to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Questions proposed by the Greek delegation to be put by the Council to the Court of Justice of the EC on the envisaged Agreement creating a unified patent litigation system
• 09/06/2009 : 10571/09 Document non accessible au public, Note from Council Legal Service to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Request for an opinion by the European Court of Justice on the compatibility under the EC Treaty of the envisaged Agreement creating a Unified Patent Litigation System
• 18/06/2009 : 11125/09 Document non accessible au public, Note from Council Legal Service to Permanent Representatives Committee (Part I), Request for an opinion by the European Court of Justice on the compatibility with the EC Treaty of the envisaged Agreement creating a Unified Patent Litigation System
• 18/06/2009 : 11125/09 COR 1 Document non accessible au public, Corrigendum to the Note from Council Legal Service to Permanent Representatives Committee (Part I), Request for an opinion by the European Court of Justice on the compatibility with the EC Treaty of the envisaged Agreement creating a Unified Patent Litigation System
• 18/06/2009 : 11183/09, "I/A" Item Note from Council Legal Service to Permanent Representatives Committee (Part I)/Council, Request for an opinion by the European Court of Justice on the compatibility with the EC Treaty of the envisaged Agreement creating a Unified Patent Litigation System
• 18/06/2009 : 11183/09 ADD 1, Addendum to the "I/A" Item Note from Council Legal Service to Permanent Representatives Committee (Part I)/Council, Request for an opinion by the European Court of Justice on the compatibility with the EC Treaty of the envisaged Agreement creating a Unified Patent Litigation System
• 09/07/2009 : 11813/09, Working Document from General Secretariat of the Council to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Draft Agreement on the European and Community Patents Court and Draft Statute - Working paper from the Commission Services on the draft Rules of Procedure for a Unified Patent Litigation System
• 09/07/2009 : 11845/09, Note from Presidency to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Questions regarding the Preparatory Work on Rules of Procedure for a Unified Patent Litigation System
• 03/09/2009 : 12881/09 Document non accessible au public, Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Delegations, Draft Agreement on the European and Community Patents Court and Draft Statute - Finnish comments in relation to the draft Rules of Procedure for a Unified Patent Litigation System,
• 29/09/2009 : 13707/09 Document non accessible au public, Working Document from General Secretariat of the Council to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Proposals for amendments to the European Patent Convention
• 29/09/2009 : 13705/09, Working Document from General Secretariat of the Council to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Draft Council Conclusions on an enhanced patent system in Europe
• 15/10/2009 : 14531/09, Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Draft Council Conclusions on an enhanced patent system in Europe - Comments by the Danish delegation
• 16/10/2009 : 14040/09, Working Document from General Secretariat of the Council to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Draft Council Conclusions on an enhanced patent system in Europe
• 28/10/2009 : 15122/09 Document non accessible au public, Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Draft Council Conclusions on an enhanced patent system in Europe - Comments by the United Kingdom delegation
• 29/10/2009 : 15148/09, Working Document from General Secretariat of the Council to Intellectual Property Attachés, Draft Council Conclusions on an enhanced patent system in Europe - Revised/annotated text
• 30/10/2009 : 15149/09, Working Document from General Secretariat of the Council to Intellectual Property Attachés, Proposal for a Council Regulation on the Community patent - Revised text
• 13/11/2009 : 15695/09, Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Permanent Representatives Committee (Part I), Draft Council conclusions on an enhanced patent system in Europe - General approach on the proposal for a Council Regulation on the Community patent
• 13/11/2009 : 15695/09 ADD 1, Addendum 1 to the Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Permanent Representatives Committee (Part I), Enhanced patent system in Europe - Draft Council conclusions
• 13/11/2009 : 15695/09 ADD 2, Addendum 2 to the Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Permanent Representatives Committee (Part I), Proposal for a Council Regulation on the Community patent - Revised text
• 17/11/2009 : 16141/09, Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Delegations, Enhanced patent system in Europe - Draft Council conclusions - Drafting proposal by the Hungarian delegation
• 17/11/2009 : 16180/09 Document non accessible au public, Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Delegations, Enhanced patent system in Europe = Comments by the Danish delegation
• 18/11/2009 : 16228/09 Document non accessible au public, Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Delegations, Enhanced patent system in Europe - Drafting proposals by the Greek delegation
• 18/11/2009 : 16273/09, Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Delegations, Enhanced patent system in Europe - Drafting proposal by the Italian delegation
• 18/11/2009 : 16201/09 Document non accessible au public, Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Delegations, Enhanced patent system in Europe - Drafting proposals by the Spanish delegation
• 20/11/2009 : 16383/09 Document non accessible au public, Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Delegations, Enhanced patent system in Europe - Drafting proposals by the Luxembourg delegation
• 20/11/2009 : 16384/09 Document non accessible au public, Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Delegations, Enhanced patent system in Europe - Drafting proposals by the United Kingdom delegation
• 20/11/2009 : 16386/09 Document non accessible au public, Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Delegations, Enhanced patent system in Europe - Drafting proposals by the Bulgarian delegation
• 23/11/2009 : 16313/09, Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Permanent Representatives Committee (Part 1), Enhanced patent system in Europe - Revised draft Council conclusions
• 27/11/2009 : 16113/09, Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Council (Competitiveness), Proposal for a Council Regulation on the Community patent - General approach
• 27/11/2009 : 16113/09 ADD 1, Addendum to the Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Council (Competitiveness), Enhanced patent system in Europe - Draft Council conclusions
• 27/11/2009 : 16114/09, Note from Presidency / General Secretariat of the Council to Council (Competitiveness), Enhanced patent system in Europe - Adoption of Council conclusions
• 07/12/2009 : 17229/09, Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Delegations, Enhanced patent system in Europe - Council conclusions
• 07/12/2009 : 17229/09 ADD 1, Addendum to the Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Delegations, Enhanced patent system in Europe - Council conclusions

Brevet UE (anciennement, brevet communautaire)

• 28/02/2008 : 6985/08, Working Document from Presidency to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Community patent: translation of claims and distribution of revenue from fees
• 28/04/2008 : 8928/08, Working Document from Presidency to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Towards a Community patent - Translation arrangements and distribution of fees
• 23/05/2008 : 9465/08, Working Document from Presidency to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Revised proposal for a Council Regulation on the Community patent
• 03/10/2008 : 13752/08, Working Document from Commission to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Distribution of Annual Renewal Fees from the Community Patent
• 08/10/2008 : 13752/08 COR 1, Corrigendum to the Working Document from Commission to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Distribution of Annual Renewal Fees from the Community Patent
• 14/11/2008 : 15674/08, Progress Report from Presidency to Permanent Representatives Committee (Part 1), Enhancing the patent system in Europe, (a) Proposal for a Regulation on the Community patent (b) Draft Agreement on the European Union Patent Court
• 21/11/2008 : 16006/08, Progress Report from Presidency to Council (Competitiveness), Enhancing the patent system in Europe, (a) Proposal for a Regulation on the Community patent (b) Draft Agreement on the European Union Patent Court
• 03/02/2000 : 6044/09, Working Document from Presidency to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Towards an Enhanced Partnership between Patent Offices under the Community Patent
• 07/04/2009 : 8588/09, Working Document from Presidency to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Revised proposal for a Council Regulation on the Community patent
• 08/05/2009 : 9549/09, Progress Report from Presidency to Permanent Representatives Committee (Part 1), Preparation of the Competitiveness Council of 28 - 29 May 2009 Enhancing the patent system in Europe (a) Proposal for a Regulation of the Council on the Community patent (b) Draft Agreement creating a Unified Patent Litigation System
• 18/05/2009 : 9668/09, Progress Report from Presidency to Council (Competitiveness), Preparation of the Competitiveness Council of 28 - 29 May 2009 Enhancing the patent system in Europe (a) Proposal for a Regulation of the Council on the Community patent (b) Draft Agreement creating a Unified Patent Litigation System
• 25/06/2009 : 11417/09, Working Document from General Secretariat of the Council to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Revised proposal for a Council Regulation on the Community patent
• 20/07/2009 : 12234/09, Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Revised proposal for a Council Regulation on the Community Patent - Proposals by the Romanian delegation
• 23/07/2009 : 12313/09, Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Revised proposal for a Council Regulation on the Community Patent - Proposals by the Polish delegation
• 29/07/2009 : 12462/09, Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Revised proposal for a Council Regulation on the Community Patent - Proposals by the Maltese delegation
• 30/07/2009 : 12342/09, Working Document from Presidency to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Towards an Enhanced Partnership between Patent Offices under the Community Patent - European Standard for Searches
• 12/08/2009 : 12640/09, Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Revised proposal for a Council Regulation on the Community Patent - Proposals by the Hungarian delegation
• 15/09/2009 : 13317/09, Note from General Secretariat of the Council to Delegations, Enhanced Partnership in Community Patent - Non-paper by the Danish, Finnish and United Kingdom delegations
• 29/09/2009 : 13707/09 Document non accessible au public, Working Document from General Secretariat of the Council to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Proposals for amendments to the European Patent Convention
• 29/09/2009 : 13706/09, Working Document from General Secretariat of the Council to Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents), Revised proposal for a Council Regulation on the Community patent
• Après ce document, le projet de brevet de l'UE (anciennement, brevet communautaire) est discuté avec celui d'unification des juridictions relatives aux litiges sur les brevets en Europe, cf. supra à partir de 13705/09

Questions

• 10/12/2007 : 16246/07, Preliminary Draft Reply to Written Question E-5968/07 put by Zuzana Roithová (PPE-DE) from General Secretariat of the Council to Permanent Representations of the Member States, European patent system
• 21/12/2007 : 16831/07, Amendment to Preliminary draft reply to Written Question E-5968/07 put by Zuzana Roithová (PPE-DE) from Delegation of Sweden
• 21/12/2007 : 16827/07, Amendment to Preliminary draft reply to Written Question E-5968/07 put by Zuzana Roithová (PPE-DE) from Delegation of United Kingdom
• 29/01/2008 : 5854/08, Draft Reply to Written Question E-5968/07 put by Zuzana Roithová (PPE-DE) from Working Party on General Affairs to Permanent Representatives Committee/Council, European patent system

• 21/01/2008 : 5533/08 Document non accessible au public, Preliminary Draft Joint Reply to Written Questions E-6647/07 and E-6648/07 by Marco Cappato (ALDE) from General Secretariat of the Council to Permanent Representations of the Member States, Discussion in the Council on a central court for validating patents delivered by the European Patent office / Technical judges in EU patent courts
• 21/01/2008 : 5560/08, Preliminary Draft Reply to Written Question E-6649/07 put by Marco Cappato (ALDE) from General Secretariat of the Council to Permanent Representations of the Member States, Patent quality debate
• 26/02/2008 : 6886/08 Document non accessible au public, Proposed as Draft Joint Reply to Written Questions E-6647/07 and E-6648/07 by Marco Cappato (ALDE) from General Secretariat of the Council to Permanent Representations of the Member States, Discussion in the Council on a central court for validating patents delivered by the European Patent office / Technical judges in EU patent courts
• 04/03/2008 : 7245/08 Document non accessible au public, Joint Reply to Written Questions E-6647/07 and E-6648/07 by Marco Cappato (ALDE) from General Secretariat of the Council to Permanent Representations of the Member States, Discussion in the Council on a central court for validating patents delivered by the European Patent office / Technical judges in EU patent courts

• 11/02/2008 : 6395/08 Document non accessible au public, Preliminary Draft Reply to Written Question E-0456/08 put by Umberto Guidoni (GUE/NGL) from General Secretariat of the Council to Permanent Representations of the Member States, Results of the consultation on the future of patent policy in Europe

• 19/04/2010 : 8761/10 Document non accessible au public, Preliminary Draft Reply to Written Question E-1830/10 put by Sebastian Valentin Bodu (PPE) from General Secretariat of the Council to Permanent Representations of the Member States, Creation of a specialised court for patents
• 06/05/2010 : 9496/10 Document non accessible au public, Amendment to Preliminary Draft Reply to Written Question E-1830/10 put by Sebastian Valentin Bodu (PPE), Creation of a specialised court for patents
• 01/06/2010 : 10458/10 Document non accessible au public, Draft Reply to Written Question E-1830/10 put by Sebastian Valentin Bodu (PPE) from Working Party on General Affairs to Permanent Representatives Committee/Council, Creation of a specialised court for patents

Problèmes et questions soulevées

Les références s'appliquent au document de travail 7728/08 du 19 mars 2008, sauf indication contraire.

Légalisation des brevets logiciels

Article 13.2

The Pool shall consist of legally and technically qualified Judges from all divisions. The appointment of technically qualified members of the Pool shall ensure that the Pool disposes of at least one member with qualifications and experience per field of technology.

Cet article stipule que le "pool de juges" (habilités à intervenir dans les différentes divisions de la Cour européenne des brevets) doit recruter au moins un juge ayant des compétences et une expertise techniques dans chacun des domaines techniques. Il n'est spécifié nulle part ce qui constitue un domaine technique. Le secteur informatique du logiciel est-il un domaine technique ? Des ingénieurs informaticiens peuvent-ils dans ce cas être recrutés comme juges techniques et faire partie du "pool de juges" ? Si tel est le cas, ce serait d'ores et déjà une reconnaissance que les brevets logiciels seront considérés comme valides par la Cour européenne des brevets, suivant ainsi la jurisprudence de l'Office européen des brevets et à l'inverse de l'esprit et de la lettre du droit actuel des brevets en Europe (Convention sur le brevet européen).

Indépendance de la Cour européenne des brevets

Article 10.3

Members of Boards of Appeal of a national patent office or of the European Patent Office shall not be eligible to serve as a Judge of the Court until expiry of a period of six months after the termination of their previous function.

Cet article stipule qu'un membre d'une chambre de recours de l'Office européen des brevets ou d'un office national ne peut être juge à la Cour européenne des brevets qu'à l'expiration d'un délai de six mois après avoir terminé ses précédentes fonctions. Cette provision est-elle suffisante pour garantir l'indépendance de la Cour européenne des brevets vis-à-vis du microcosme des brevets ?

Dans le dernier document (document de travail 7928/09 du 23 mars 2009) soumis à la Cour de justice de l'Union européenne pour vérifier la compatibilité du projet avec les traités européens, cette disposition a été supprimée. Il y a donc lieu de s'inquiéter de l'indépendance de la Cour des brevets européens et de l'Union européenne, puisque rien n'interdit désormais qu'elle soit partiellement, voire intégralement, composée de membres des chambres de recours de l'OEB. La séparation des pouvoirs n'est dès lors pas garantie.

Séparation des actions pour infraction et pour invalidité

Article 15.2

Direct actions for revocation or actions for declaration of non-infringement shall be brought before the central division. Such action can be brought without the plaintiff having to initiate an opposition procedure before the European Patent Office.

Article 15.5

Where a counterclaim for revocation is brought in the case of an action for infringement, the local or regional division concerned shall examine whether the counterclaim is manifestly unfounded in which case it proceeds with the action for infringement. If it is of the opinion that the counterclaim could be founded and the patent could be revoked it shall either, after having heard the parties, ask the Registry to assign a technically qualified judge in the field of technology concerned from the Pool of Judges, or refer the counterclaim for decision to the central division and stay the infringement proceedings.

Ces articles stipulent que les différentes actions visant à invalider un brevet doivent être portées devant la division centrale de la Cour européenne des brevets, ou tout au moins requérir la participation d'un juge technique du "pool de juges". Tandis que les actions pour infraction présumée peuvent être portées devant une division locale, régionale ou devant la division centrale.

Cette différence de traitement vient de ce qu'une action pour infraction ne remet pas en cause la validité d'un brevet, elle consiste à juger si le produit ou le procédé prétendument contrefacteur est fabriqué, utilisé ou distribué d'une façon couverte par le périmètre défini par les revendications du brevet. Ou en d'autres termes, on recherche si les caractéristiques essentielles de l'invention ont été contrefaites. Tandis que pour une action en invalidité, on doit vérifier que le brevet respecte les critères de brevetabilité.

Toutefois cette distinction est marqué d'un biais important. En effet depuis plusieurs années, la doctrine suivie par l'OEB pour déterminer la validité d'un brevet consiste à définir le problème que l'invention tente de résoudre, puis de comparer la solution proposée ansi que les effets produits par cette solution à l'état de l'art antérieur. Pour être brevetable, le problème, la solution ou ses effets doivent être « techniques ». Et la différence avec l'état de l'art antérieur doit être nouvelle et marquer une activité inventive. C'est ce que l'on appelle l'approche « problème-solution(-effets). Et cette approche justifie effectivement une différence de traitement par rapports aux actions en contrefaçon, puisqu'elle ne détermine jamais le périmètre de l'invention, ses caractéristiques essentielles.

Or l'approche « problème-solution(-effets) est une évolution de la pratique en matière de brevetabilité. Auparavant, le respect des critères de brevetabilité devait impliquer que l'on définisse quel est le périmètre des revendications, i.e ses caractéristiques essentielles, que l'on détermine si ce périmètre fait partie des objets brevetables, dont sont exclus les logiciels, et si ce périmètre représente une nouveauté et une activité inventive par rapport à l'état de l'art. C'est ce qui est appelé, notamment en droit allemand, la théorie du « noyau ».

On voit que la théorie du noyau implique la recherche du périmètre de l'invention, de ses caractéristiques essentielles, tout comme l'exige la recherche d'une contrefaçon. Dans cette optique les actions en contrefaçon ou en invalidité n'auraient aucune raison d'être dissociées.

On peut donc s'inquiéter qu'en séparant le traitement des actions en contrefaçon de celles en invalidité, le projet de Cour européenne des brevets n'ait d'ores et déjà adopté la doctrine de l'OEB.