NL Patent Office

Case law

Sometimes, a dispute may arise with regard to the content, interpretation or legal validity of a patent. In such a case, any parties who feel that a patent or a patent holder puts them at a disadvantage may start legal proceedings. Any parties who feel that their patent rights have been infringed may also take the matter to court.

The rulings made in these legal proceedings form the case law. Case law is the interpretation of the law of the judiciary, such as that which has been shown in decisions taken, applied legislation and regulations and applied legal precedents. Case law can be considered important with regard to future disputes.

Intellectual Property Supplement
NL Patent Office publishes the Intellectual Property Supplement [Het Bijblad bij de Industriële Eigendom (BIE)]. Case law, news, articles, book discussions, notices and official announcements in the area of intellectual/industrial property law are published in this trade journal.