The complete list of works

When will utility model protection for processes arrive? In the June 2026 issue, Dr. Meitinger discusses whether and when processes could also be protected by the German utility model — so far, process protection remains reserved for patents.

Extraterrestrial Intelligence versus Patent Law. Dr. Meitinger discusses what impact the arrival of extraterrestrials would have on patent law.

Some Figures on the Market for Patent Attorney Services in Germany. Dr. Malte Köllner and Dr. Meitinger discuss the development of the market for patent attorneys in Germany.

Zero Hour for Germany after the Second World War: How the USA "Acquired" the Intellectual Property of an Entire Country. Dr. Meitinger reviews developments in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War.

What difference does one day make? The legal gap in section 3(1) German Patent Act in the age of AI. Dr. Meitinger draws attention to a legal gap.

Patent Law and the Superintelligence of Transhumanism. Dr. Meitinger examines the relationship between a future superintelligence and patent law.

125 Years of the Patent Attorney Profession: Establishing a Profession. Dr. Meitinger describes the history of the patent attorney profession.

Trademark Infringement through a .de Domain. Dr. Meitinger explains the approach to take in cases of trademark infringement through a .de domain.

In the Beginning There Was Only Novelty: The Emergence of Inventive Step as a Patentability Requirement. Dr. Meitinger describes the emergence of the inventive step criterion.

Patents as Term Life Insurance for a Company. Using an example from the 1990s, the article explains how patents can function as a form of term life insurance for a company.

Does the Two-Part Claim Format Make Sense? Dr. Meitinger discusses whether dividing claims using the phrase "characterized in that" makes sense.

The Limits of Advertising: What Is a Patent Attorney Allowed to Do? Dr. Meitinger discusses the possibilities for advertising a patent attorney's services.

The Injunctive Relief Claim in Patent Law: A Historical Oversight. Dr. Meitinger points out that the founding fathers of the German Patent Act did not intend for patents to carry a claim to injunctive relief.

The Transhumanist Person Skilled in the Art. Against the backdrop of a transhumanist scenario, Dr. Meitinger describes how the patent law concept of the person skilled in the art is changing.

Preventive Patent Enforcement by Artificial Intelligence. Dr. Meitinger describes the possibilities and limits of preventive patent enforcement using artificial intelligence.

A Comparison of Employee Invention Law with Patent Law. Dr. Meitinger explains, in particular, the differing use of the terms "improvement" and "invention".

Patent Filing Activity of Applicants Based in Germany in Global Comparison. The filing activity of German applicants in recent years is compared on a global scale.

Artificial intelligence as an authority for testing the inventive step of an invention — a view from Germany. Dr. Meitinger proposes a new definition of inventive step in patent law in order to expand the possible uses of AI.

The Checkered History of the Rivalry between the Electric Vehicle and the Internal Combustion Engine Automobile. Dr. Meitinger describes the up-and-down rivalry between the two drive types.

Comments on the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) Decision "Scheibenbremse II" (Disc Brake II). Dr. Meitinger discusses the BGH decision, which concerned an alleged indirect patent infringement through a wear part.

Amendments to Application Documents in Grant Proceedings before the EPO. Dr. Meitinger describes the options for amending application documents during grant proceedings before the European Patent Office, particularly in preparation for oral proceedings.

Traditional, Agile and Hybrid Project Management of a Patent. Dr. Meitinger examines how optimal project management of a patent or patent portfolio can be achieved.

A Gender Gap in Inventorship? Dr. Meitinger examines whether women are significantly underrepresented among inventors.

Beware of Psychological Effects in Patent Valuation. Dr. Meitinger describes the possible psychological implications when valuing a patent portfolio.

Utility Model Branch-Off: A Rescue in German and European Opposition Proceedings? Dr. Meitinger describes the utility model branch-off procedure in German and European opposition proceedings.

Robo-Judges in Legal Practice. The article discusses the possibility of robo-judges in the legal practice of industrial property protection.

How to Hinder Competitors Using Patent Law. Dr. Meitinger describes ways to effectively hinder competitors by exploiting a legal gap in patent law.

Naming the Inventor in a Utility Model. A case for naming the inventor in a utility model.

Artificial Intelligence and Patent Law. Dr. Meitinger describes the consequences of the emergence of artificial intelligence for patent law.

Blockchain. Dr. Meitinger outlines the potential for conflict between patent law and blockchain technology.

The 18-Month Publication Period for Patent Applications. The article examines the advantages and disadvantages of the 18-month delay before a patent application filed with the patent office is published — one disadvantage being the risk of economically wasteful duplicate development.

Nameless Know-How as the Basis of an Invention. Describes how an organization's "nameless know-how" can give rise to an invention, and how the company can be taken into account in the allocation of ownership without violating the inventor principle of patent law.

Crowdsourcing and Patent Law. Inventions arising from crowdsourcing have special requirements that current patent law does not adequately address — a special law similar to the Employee Inventions Act is proposed.