PIUG 2021 - Tuesday

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PIUG 2021  TUESDAY  Virtual Meeting

 T U E S D A Y M O R N I N G 8 : 0 0 A M – 12 : 1 5 A M

Resistance Isn’t Futile: a Searcher’s Experience of EPO Oppositions Robert Austin (Unilever PLC, Unilever Patent Group) 9:30 – 10:05 am

 ABSTRACT Innovation is at the heart of Unilever’s ambition to grow sustainably. Science, technology and product development are central to our plans to keep providing consumers with great brands that improve their lives while having a positive impact on the environment and society. Working as either Opponent or Proprietor in ongoing opposition proceedings at the European Patent Office, is an important part of the day-to-day efforts of the Unilever Patent Group supporting these plans and helping to maximise the potential of the company’s R&D investments. In this talk I will highlight the key role of Patent Information Analysts, supporting our Patent Attorneys in their work protecting Unilever brands during opposition proceedings. I will include a few facts, figures and search tips, and hopefully provide a little evidence that Resistance isn’t always futile.  BIOGRAPHY Robert Austin joined Unilever as a Patent Information Analyst in 2016. In this role he supports the work of Unilever Patent Group Attorneys, conducting a variety of patentability, freedom-to-operate, opposition, and other related searches. Rob previously worked for 15 years at STN/FIZ Karlsruhe, in marketing, sales and customer training, with particular focus on the Derwent World Patents Index (DWPI) and Chemical Abstracts databases on STN. He was also co-creator of the USPTO Genetic Sequence Database, USGENE, along with Martin Goffman CEO of the SequenceBase Corporation (now Clarivate Analytics). Prior to his time at FIZ Karlsruhe, Rob worked for Derwent Information (Clarivate Analytics) in successive roles as a patent indexer, customer trainer, and ultimately DWPI Database Product Manager.