Management Forum Logo

Presented by
Management Forum

Patent Protection for Software-Related Inventions in Europe and the USA Training Course

An intensive update on patent protection for software-related inventions covering all the major developments in European patent law.

★★★★★ "My aim was to get an understanding of the difference of a "normal" and a software patent and I think... more (14)"

13-14 March 2025
+ 2 July 2025, 17-18 November 2025 »
from £599

Need help? Enrol/reserve

Format: Live online, Classroom
CPD: 6 hours for your records
Certificate of completion

Enrol/reserve Download Print Share Email

Course overview

Technology and software have influences across most business sectors in relation to leveraging growth, and this has important implications for IP and patent laws. This intensive one-day event will help you to understand the development strategies impacting software patents and update you on the major developments in European patent law, in particular GUI inventions and ‘mixed’ inventions with both patentable and non-patentable subject matter.

Under the guidance of our expert faculty, you will learn how recent US case law impacts software patents in the US and become proficient in exploiting the differences between the US and Europe regarding the scope of available patent protection. The course will provide a review of key tactics for US practice and give you an understanding of the latest US strategies in dealing with obviousness and the rise of indefiniteness and written description issues.

Having an experienced in-house lawyer on the faculty will ensure that you benefit from their practical knowledge on selecting and protecting software technologies, and get invaluable insights into foreign filing strategies.

You will get to grips with how to avoid pitfalls in claim drafting using case studies and understand whether patent protection should be available for software-related and business-related inventions.

A practical workshop session will provide ample opportunity for discussion with the expert faculty and consolidate your learning.

This course is part of our collection of IP & Patents Training Courses.

Benefits of attending

By attending this course you will:

Review European law relating to the protection of software-related and business-related inventions
Clarify the latest EPO Board of Appeal decisions and their impact
Gain an update on recent US Federal Circuit decisions impacting software
Examine the USPTOs post-Alice guidelines
Understand claim techniques for US practice and post-grant considerations for these technologies
Learn about available claim formats and description requirements in Europe
Expand your knowledge of filing strategies and dealing with EPO objections
Explore an industry view of what software technologies should be patented
Get to grips with how balance budget and the likelihood of success

Who should attend?

This course has been specially designed for:

Patent attorneys (both from private practice and industry)
In-house patent and general counsel
Chief information officers
Chief technology officers
Business development and technology professionals

Enrol/reserve

Tim May
Finnegan LLP

Timothy May is a partner in the Washington, DC office of Finnegan LLP. He has over 20 years experience in the field of US patent law, with significant experience counselling clients on software patent matters. Tim currently manages the patent portfolios for several European clients in various software, medical device and electrical and mechanical technologies. He regularly speaks on software patent issues. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a Patent Examiner at the US Patent and Trademark Office, where he examined applications involving digital and software technologies. From 2006 to 2011, Tim was located in the firm’s European office and continues to work with many European clients.

More details

Alan Boyd
D Young & Co LLP

Alan Boyd is a partner at D Young & Co. Before he joined the patent law profession, he was a software engineer researcher and research assistant. Alan’s main areas of expertise include computer architectures, embedded systems, digital electronics, telecommunications and networks. He is a member of D Young & Co’s electronics, engineering & IT team, and has a great deal of experience in drafting and prosecuting patents for a range of clients. He is also an examiner for the legal paper in the European Qualifying Exams.

More details

NEW higher discounts for multiple bookings - bring your colleagues to make your training budget go further:

30% off the 2nd delegate*
40% off the 3rd delegate*
50% off the 4th delegate*

Please contact us for pricing if you are interested in booking 5 or more delegates

13-14 March 2025

Live online

13:00-16:15 UK (London) (UTC+00)
14:00-17:15 Paris (UTC+01)
09:00-12:15 New York (UTC-04)
Course code 14573

GBP 599 699
EUR 839 979
USD 963 1,119

Until 06 Feb

2 sessions live online training
Browser-based, no download usually required
See presenters and interact with fellow attendees
Download documentation and certification of completion
Fair transfer and cancellation policy

View basket

Not ready to book yet?

for 7 days, no obligation

2 July 2025

Classroom
Rembrandt Hotel
London

09:00-17:00 UK (London)
Course code 14725
Optional £300/€419/$479 per night

GBP 699 799
EUR 979 1,119
USD 1,123 1,279

Until 28 May

1 day classroom-based training
Optional accommodation - 1 night including breakfast, checking in the day before the course
Meet presenters and fellow attendees in person
Lunch and refreshments provided
Download documentation and certification of completion
Fair transfer and cancellation policy

View basket

Not ready to book yet?

for 7 days, no obligation

17-18 November 2025

Live online

13:00-16:15 UK (London) (UTC+00)
14:00-17:15 Paris (UTC+01)
08:00-11:15 New York (UTC-05)
Course code 14911

GBP 599 699
EUR 839 979
USD 963 1,119

Until 13 Oct

2 sessions live online training
Browser-based, no download usually required
See presenters and interact with fellow attendees
Download documentation and certification of completion
Fair transfer and cancellation policy

View basket

Not ready to book yet?

for 7 days, no obligation

* Early booking discounts may not be combined with other discounts or offers. As such, the discounts for 2nd/3rd/4th delegates are based on the full price; and apply only when booking multiple delegates on the same date.

Reviews of IPI's Patent Protection for Software-Related Inventions in Europe and the USA training course

My aim was to get an understanding of the difference of a "normal" and a software patent and I think the course covered that excellently.

Mar 24 2022

Siim Kinnas Estonia
Intellectual Property Advisor, Estonian Business and Innovation Agency

Sep 15 2022

I have obtained knowledge about some of the rules for drafting the claims for EP and USA patent applications as well as different aspects on both procedures.

Monica Teresa Bortolan Italy
Patent Attorney IPM/Patenting, ENI CORPORATE UNIVERSITY SPA

Sep 15 2022

Very compact but still fairly informative course with excellent speakers.

Matti Juhani Pasanen Switzerland
European patent attorney, Sika Patent Attorneys

Sep 25 2020

Overall, this webinar was very good.

Ronney Wiklund Sweden
Senior Patent Attorney, Essity Hygiene and Health AB

Sep 18 2019

I was completely satisfied with the course. The content was very well selected and the speakers were professional in their presentations.

Marijan Leban Slovenia
Head of Intellectual Property Unit, Univerza v Ljubljani

Sep 18 2019

Good course, good speakers, relevant content.

Romano Beitsma Germany
European IP Attorney, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) GmbH

Mar 6 2019

The speakers were all good and their materials were well presented.

Victoria Hufton United Kingdom
Senior Attorney, Stratagem IPM Limited

Mar 6 2019

Very good!

Massimiliano SAVI Italy
European and Italian Patent Attorney, Notarbartolo & Gervasi S.p.A.

Mar 6 2019

A good selection of experienced and responsive speakers – you can ask many questions and they have the ability and experience to respond. Enough content to keep you busy for some time when you come back.

Eugenio Souto Belgium
Patent attorney, IMEC vzw

Sep 20 2018

I really appreciated the level of insight from experienced practitioners in the field. Alan and Tim are especially effective communicators. In an area which is technically and legally complex, I felt that they delivered clarity without oversimplifying the issues at stake. Highly recommended.

Sarah James United Kingdom
Patent Attorney, Unilever

Sep 20 2018

Very good content. Splendid examples of how to address s101 objections. Good balance of male and female and private practice and industry attendees and speakers.

Cassandra Derham France
Senior IP Attorney - Head of Technical IP, Amadeus SAS