Sustainable Development Committee
Meeting Frequency: 1 to 2 meetings per year
The challenges of sustainable development are numerous, and the objectives set by governments require the mobilization of all stakeholders—both institutional and civil society actors. In this context, the commission aims to highlight the importance of protecting innovative activities through patent law. To do so, it focuses on the use of resources, particularly in relation to the necessary energy and ecological transitions needed to ensure the long‑term sustainability of human activities. This year, the commission will concentrate its work on the themes of eco‑design and life‑cycle analysis of products and services, in order to better understand, on the one hand, the significance of these concepts within a “sustainable” economic development framework, and on the other hand, the impact and role that industrial property should have in this regard.
This commission is above all a forum for discussion: we aim to address the topic of sustainable development from a firmly practical perspective, grounded in day‑to‑day concerns experienced in the field. Your input matters to us!
Strategy & Patent Portfolio Management Committee
Meeting Frequency: Once a month or every two months depending on the topics to be addressed, either in person or remotely
This commission tackles a wide variety of subjects related to the practical aspects of strategy and patent portfolio management. It develops reflections and provides guidance to individuals involved in the management and protection of intellectual property rights, helping them strengthen their understanding and skills in this essential field. The commission focuses on specific and often complex issues—procedural, technical, and/or legal—to better equip stakeholders to navigate risks and opportunities in industrial property within a given economic and competitive environment.
The diversity of topics covered makes it possible to establish best practices in IP strategy, from start‑ups to large corporations. The commission is aimed at all professionals—patent attorneys, industry representatives, and lawyers—helping them better understand the challenges at stake and respond in a timely and agile manner to the rapidly evolving patent ecosystem.
Innovation & Research Committee
Meeting Frequency: 3 meetings per year
This commission aims to highlight and raise awareness among our members about the issues linked to any innovation that may involve patents and research work, and to exchange best practices in R&D collaborations, particularly between public research and private companies. It has already organized a conference on patent co‑ownership, in the form of a roundtable bringing together public‑sector technology transfer managers and corporate representatives, as well as a conference on new public‑sector entrepreneurs (From academic research to business creation) led by Daphnée Raffini and Arnaud Tourin — based on their book published by Presses des Mines.
The commission organizes events intended to stimulate members’ thinking on how Research and Innovation can address the challenges of our rapidly changing world. These events involve confronting viewpoints and experiences, in concrete terms, from companies and their advisors, as well as from academic and private‑sector researchers. This dynamic enables rich reflection and collective work (defining topics and themes, selecting speakers, organizing events).
Employee Inventions Committee
Meeting Frequency: 1 to 2 meetings per year
This commission regularly provides a review of French case law on employee inventions (permanent employees, fixed‑term employees, VIE participants, interns, etc.), as well as comparisons with other countries (Germany, the United States, China, Japan…). Its aim is to address the topic from all legal and practical angles, including ownership of rights, allocation, additional remuneration, fair compensation, contributions and taxes to be paid, and more.
Case law on this subject is particularly important for innovative companies, as it directly impacts the remuneration of their employee‑inventors.
Conflict Resolution Committee
Meeting Frequency: 1 to 2 meetings per year
This Commission studies all aspects related to the resolution of patent disputes. A significant part of its work concerns judicial litigation, for example the practical aspects of procedural rules or methods of evidence. Alternative dispute resolution mechanisms are also discussed.
The Commission’s work generally provides an opportunity for exchanges with specialized judges, and it notably contributed to the development of the protocol on procedural practices, known as the EPP Protocol, together with the judges of the 3rd Chamber of the Paris Judicial Court. This protocol was signed on 3 July 2023 between the Paris Judicial Court and the Paris Bar Association.
UPC/Europe Committee
Meeting Frequency: 1 to 2 meetings per year
This commission regularly addresses topics relating to the Unified Patent Court (UPC) as well as European case law connected to the UPC Agreement (UPCA). It presents the first judgments and orders of this new European court, covering both procedural and substantive issues.
The entry into force of the UPC has reshaped the European patent landscape. The first months have shown how important it will be to maintain a balance among the Member States that will shape future European case law in this field. Accordingly, our meetings are dedicated to this pan‑European perspective.
Communication Committee
Meeting Frequency: 1 to 2 meetings per year
This commission is responsible for managing and updating the website www.apeb.fr and APEB’s pages on social media platforms (particularly LinkedIn), in order to promote the association’s activities, significant legal developments, and the organization of events.
Communication is a key element in ensuring the visibility and vitality of our association, whose purpose is to bring together all actors in the field of patent law (industry representatives, lawyers, and patent attorneys) in a spirit of sharing and reflection on current developments.
Young Practitioners Committee
This committee aims to offer young patent law practitioners a dedicated space, enabling them to learn, raise their profile and exchange views, both among themselves and with more experienced members of the Association, as well as to strengthen the dynamism and influence of APEB by integrating a new generation of patent law practitioners in France and Europe.
Ongoing Committee Work
Co-Chairs: Florence JACQUAND and Christophe JOLLY
Practice of the CNIS
How to motivate employees to innovate – best practices and innovation strategy
Strategy / Portfolio Management Committee (co-chaired by Stéphane Bezac and François Legrand)
- Strategic issues and practical aspects of protection: “Patent vs. Trade Secret”
Innovation / Research Committee (co-chaired by Frédéric Benech and Anthony Berton, with contributions from Francis Hagel and Olivier Thirard)
- Keys to successful co‑ownership
- Entrepreneurs coming from the public sector
Sustainable Development Committee (co-chaired by Florence Jacquand and Christophe Jolly, with contributions from Stéphane Bezac)
A series of events dedicated to eco‑design:
- Introduction to eco‑design and the standards governing it
- How to transition to eco‑design (event focused on ADEME)
- Industry feedback and lessons learned
oUPC/Europe Committee (co-chaired by Benjamin May and Konstantin Schallmoser)
- UPC review and the first decisions on the merits (in the autumn)
Communication Committee (co-chaired by Marianne Gabriel and Gwendal Barbaut)
The Committee is working on the creation and ongoing development of APEB’s new website and its communications.
Dispute Resolution Committee (co-chaired by Gaëlle Bourout and Pierre‑Emmanuel Meynard, with contributions from Jean‑Frédéric Gaultier and Emmanuel de Marcellus)
- Shared perspectives and experiences on mediation
- Protecting confidentiality in patent litigation
Young Practitioners Committee
- Setting up the committee and recruiting members
- Organisation of a workshop on “Litigation Strategy and Case Management in Patent Matters” planned for early 2026, dedicated to key topics such as the implementation of different litigation strategies, advocacy and mediation techniques, communication with clients, and the sharing of experiences in relations between patent attorneys and industry representatives.
- Organisation of a conference / round table bringing together young European patent practitioners from a variety of professional backgrounds, on topics of comparative law