Morning Session

Chaired by Andrej Michalík (Partner – De Clercq & Partners)

08:30 | Registration & Coffee

09:00 | Welcome & Introduction
Ann De Clercq (Founding Partner – De Clercq & Partners)

09:05 | Public Prior Use in Patent Disputes: Burden of Proof, Strategies, and Implications of Recent Case Law
David Lesthaeghe (European Patent Attorney – De Clercq & Partners)
Sarah Thysen (European Patent Attorney – De Clercq & Partners)

09:30 | SPCs and Unitary SPCs: Where Are We Now?
Mike Snodin (Founder – Park Grove IP)

10:30 | Coffee Break

11:00 | From Chaos to Clarity: Navigating Unity of Invention before the EPO
Sytse de Jonge (Operational Director – EPO, NL)
Koen Vanhalst (Partner – De Clercq & Partners)

12:00 | Walking Lunch at Auberge du Pêcheur

Afternoon Session

Chaired by Liesbet Paemen (Partner – De Clercq & Partners)

13:30 | The Unified Patent Court
Christophe Ronse (Partner – Altius, BE)
Kirian Claeyé (Partner – Altius, BE)

14:30 | The Health of Patent Quality: Epistemology, Etiology, and Remedy
Filip De Corte (Head IP Crop Protection – Syngenta, CH)

15:30 | Coffee Break

16:00 | Upcycling & Recycling of Brands in Fashion
Sarah van den Brande (Partner – Liedekerke, BE)

17:00 | Closing Remarks

17:05 | Closing Reception at the Conference Venue