Friday Foghorn

In addition to marking the 42nd anniversary of the foundation of NASA, today is also the day that the EPO gains its 38th Member State as Serbia accedes to the European Patent Convention. An extension state since November 2004, Serbia deposited its instruments of accession on 15 July 2010 and started the final steps towards becoming a full-blown member of what the EPO proudly proclaims to be "the largest transnational patent system in the world".

Patents Events at IBIL, University College London

Nestled within the IPKat's upcoming events pages, it is now possible to find two irresistible nuggets of patent-interest (pronounced with either a long or short 'a' as the mood takes) from UCL's Institute of Brand and Innovation Law.

The first up is also a first of other sorts, as the IPKat can exclusively reveal (although unfortunately cannot yet provide the exact details of) the fact that on the 8th of November 2010, Benoît Battistelli (right), the new President of the European Patent Office, will be giving a public lecture at UCL - his first in the UK since stepping into his new role. The event will be held in UCL's Cruciform Lecture theatre, exact details are yet to be finalised (and will be posted by the IPKat when they are), but for those with an interest in patents it's a date for your diaries.

The second event in UCL's November patent-fest, is the Institute of Brand and Innovation Law's annual Innovation Seminar. This year, the event is to be held on the 17th of November. Things start a little later than usual, with drinks before the event rather than after. Refreshments are available from 5:45, with the event commencing proper at 6:15.

The title is Patent Claim Interpretation. Speakers are:

• Professor Dr. Peter Meier-Beck: Presiding Judge at the Bundesgerichtshof, Karlsruhe, Germany, and Honorary Professor at the Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf;
• Professor Dan Burk: Chancellor's Professor of Law, University of California, Irvine;
• Dr Matt Fisher, UCL IBIL

Daniel Alexander QC, of 8 New Square is in the chair.

For the Innovation Seminar on Patent Claim Interpretation, click here: but be warned - places are going fast!