Intellectual Property IP & European Patent Office EPO

For over forty years Target Travel has focused on the Intellectual Property profession. We have a wealth of knowledge and experience in simplifying the complex travel needs of the IP community. Be this to hearings and appeals at the EPOs, complex itineraries visiting clients and associates in North America or the Far East, as well as Patent and Trademark conferences.

EPO European Patent Offices

Flight bookings – Target Travel is able to make flight reservations without commitment for a limited time depending on the fare type. Most of Target Travel’s clients travel on BA’s ‘Semi-Flex’ fares with rules that are especially convenient for those attending a hearing/appeal and are good value, you do not need to buy Business Class tickets to achieve flexibility. This fare type is a great way of reducing costs but keeping the booking flexible, they are in Economy Class and include checked luggage. Once you confirm that a ticket should be issued, we will bill your accounts department directly, so no faffing around with credit cards, etc.

Semi-Flex Rules – Target Travel can usually hold a booking provisionally for 72 hours, within that time it can be amended or cancelled. Once issued there are no refunds permitted.

The really good bit – On the same day of travel changes are free, subject to availability. As long as there is a seat in Economy Class you can have it for no charge, we do not have to review what fare is available compared with what you have already paid.

Also permitted are changes not on the same day of travel and also the ability to change the flight date, but in these cases, you then do have to pay a penalty fee (min £120) plus any difference between the ticket you are holding and the flight you wish to change to. Even in these scenarios, semi-flex tickets are generally still cheaper than paying the top tier most flexible tickets in the first place. Please note you cannot however change any of the airports, so when at The Hague there is no swapping the return from Rotterdam to Amsterdam.

Book through Target Travel and you’re not on your own, you can call us to change your e-ticket if your plans change, or at times of stress, such as with flight cancellations; fog; strikes; civil unrest, pandemics, snow, and ash clouds. While away it is very easy to feel isolated and ill informed as to what is going on, but we are experienced and your friendly help in these potentially stressful situations.

………..Incidentally, this would have been my last trip to Oral Proceedings at the EPO, as I am retiring at the end of January. Please can I take the opportunity to thank you and the rest of your office for all the help you have given me over many years – you have certainly reduced the stress levels on what can be fraught occasions when attending Oral Proceedings……….

Munich

Whether you are attending a hearing at the New EPO in The PschorrHöfe or Isar buildings, or an appeal at Haar*, Target Travel can assist you in finding the most convenient hotel. We are very familiar with Munich and have visited it on numerous occasions, although probably a lot less than most of our clients.

Trade fairs and Oktoberfest can mean accommodation in Munich can be difficult to find and very expensive too. Target Travel can help locate rooms and offer alternatives to the usual hotels if they have high and as in many cases very restrictive rates (pre-payment with no changes/ refunds permitted).

*EPO Boards of Appeal, Haar

As many of you will be aware, appeals have moved from the old German Patent Office to the suburb of Haar, 22 km to the east of Munich. The EPO Boards of Appeal building is located 5 mins walk (1 km) from Haar S-Bahn Station. This makes commuting from the Holiday Inn or Hilton near Rosenheim Platz simple, as the train journey is 15 mins (6 stations) and requires no changes, alternatively it is about 25 mins by taxi. There are a number of small and simple non-chain hotels in and around Haar, but most are tourist grade or motel style and do not compare with the four start establishments most of our clients stayed in back near the river in Munich. The nearest hotel of a quality that we feel would be acceptable (with a decent desk and meeting rooms) is a three-star hotel, this is 20 mins walk or 5 mins by taxi to the Appeals Building, also about 30 mins by taxi from the airport. NOTE- in January 2022, the EPO advised that the Appeals Board will return to the Munich City Centre sometime in 2025/26.

The Hague

We at Target Travel are very familiar with this EPO, situated in a suburb of The Hague in a town called Rijswijk and not in the city itself. As the EPO is located adjacent to a motorway, Rotterdam Airport (RTM) is actually the quickest airport to get to or from. However, there are presently only limited services from London and it doesn’t have as many flight options to get you home after your hearing as Amsterdam, so not quite as convenient. In addition, the taxi fare from the EPO to Rotterdam Airport is around EURO 60-70+.

The alternative is Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, where the railway station is situated directly below the terminal, with escalators to the platforms that come directly off the main airport concourse. There are frequent rail services to The Hague Station/ Den Haag HS, with a journey time of about 30 mins. At that point you can either take a taxi or tram to Rijswijk, the journey time is about 20 mins or in the rush hour 30 mins. The alternative is to change trains at The Hague/ Den Haag HS for a frequent local suburban service which takes 10 mins to get to Rijswijk Station. The Best Western Grand Winston Hotel is located in the square opposite the station.

There are a couple of hotels in Rijswijk, but it is a very quiet town, especially in the evening when generally no restaurants or cafes are open. Alternatives are in The Hague itself which has plenty of dining options, especially in the old town, or at one of a number of small B&Bs in the charming Delft.

Alternative hotels to the most popular Best Western Plus Grand Winston in Rijswijk

Rijswijk – Equi-distant to and located on the other side of the EPO building is The Hotel & Spa Savarin. A low-level hotel with pleasant grounds, a health club, and a good restaurant and is close to the AutoRoute’s on/ off ramp. They offer a scheduled shuttle service to the EPO for around Euro 5 /person/ way and it takes 8 mins, alternatively, you can walk for 2 mins, then catch the tram which takes 5-10mins to get to the EPO. The hotel is about 10 mins by tram from Rijswijk Railway Station.
The Hague city centre – in the vibrant centre of the old town, is the historic Goude Hooft dating back to 1423. It’s now a super exclusive hotel and restaurant, with only 8 suites and a B&B basis. Lots of suite options, one is set over 3 floors, with the lounge & kitchen sandwiched between the two separated bedrooms above & below. Interesting if you need a hotel room and a meeting space? Generally, those clients of ours that want to be in The Hague will stay at the City Hilton which has a good vibrant location in the old part of town.

Eurostar
Eurostar normally from St Pancras, services operate twice daily to Rotterdam and onwards to Amsterdam Centraal Station, in both the morning and evening. Since Covid, the stops at the Kent stations have been suspended. We at Target Travel can book train, hotel, and flights for you.

Berlin

The Berlin EPO is not in the most desirable part of the city. So feel free to ask us at Target Travel for availability and prices of hotels in the historic East Central; high-tech Potsdam, or the vibrant West Central Districts of Berlin.

New Airport

In 2020, after a decade of construction delays, Berlin Brandenberg (BER) Airport opened. This is about 30-45 mins from the city center built on the edge of the former Schoenfeld Airport which has closed, as did Templehof and Tegel Airports. The duration of the rail journey should, later on, be reduced from the present 30 mins to 20 mins.

IP – Intellectual Property Conferences

Patent and Trademark conferences with Target Travel. For over 40 years Target Travel has been assisting our clients with their visits to various Intellectual Property conferences and conventions across the globe. Feel free to contact us and discuss any of your flight or accommodation requirements to these Patent and Trademark conferences with Target Travel.

AIPPI –International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property

APAA – Asian Patent Attorney Association

BIO – BIO International Convention, Biotechnology

ECTA; FICPI, AIPLA & LIS, and other IP conferences

Trademark conference

Target Travel has been sending our clients to this conference and that of its predecessor for over 50 years. We select a number of hotels with differing styles, locations or budgets for those who wish to book with us. In the proceeding December, we publish a brochure, showing maps and images, reviews and describing various areas of the host city for the benefit of those not familiar with it. In addition, our Target Travel brochure also contains flight options and schedules from the UK, with some example costs and ideas if you want a few days of R&R? Target Travel’s program is available to all Trademark Attorneys4

Midyear

In the proceeding summer Target Travel will produce an info sheet containing an overview of this conference’s location; travel options with a guide to prices; accommodation for those that need it and often ideas on some pre & post-conference R&R.