Since 1991, the annual Patent Information Conference of the European Patent Office (EPO) has been touring European cities big and small. Formerly called EPIDOS, it is the prime get-together of representatives of the EPO, numerous national patent offices, patent information providers, and patent practitioners from the industry, as well as other IP-related service providers and tool vendors like IPfolio.
I am headed for a few days of chilly weather in Hamburg, where IPfolio is an exhibitor at the European Patent Office's (EPO) patent information conference. A brilliant autumn day in Berkeley with a tranquil, deep-blue San Francisco Bay and temperatures above 70F didn't make it easy to trade in the California sunshine against the rougher seasonal conditions in Northern Germany. Still, going back home to Europe always fills me with positive excitement, particularly as I'm looking forward to meeting up with many old friends at this annual IP industry get-together.