---
title: "Patents"
id: "1990"
type: "expertise"
slug: "patents"
published_at: "2026-01-23T14:24:49+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-07-29T12:43:26+00:00"
url: "https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/expertise/patents/"
markdown_url: "https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/expertise/patents.md"
excerpt: "Turning patents into engines of decision-making and competitiveness The strength of a patent determines freedom to operate, asset value, and investor confidence. In an environment defined by rapid innovation and global competition, anticipating litigation risks protects product launches, financing, and..."
taxonomy_language:
  - "English"
taxonomy_post_translations:
  - "pll_697384b163f84"
taxonomy_tax_expertise:
  - "Patents"
taxonomy_tax_famille_expertise:
  - "Advisory"
  - "Transactional"
---

## Turning patents into engines *of decision-making and competitiveness*

The strength of a patent determines freedom to operate, asset value, and investor confidence. In an environment defined by rapid innovation and global competition, anticipating litigation risks protects product launches, financing, and international growth. With the advent of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) and the increase in cross-border disputes, companies need a coordinated, responsive, and consistent strategy.rnrnWe combine legal rigor, scientific expertise, and business intelligence to turn technical complexity into strategic decision-making.

Our Patents team is composed of an integrated group of attorneys and patent attorneys, most of whom hold scientific qualifications and are authorized to act before the European Patent Office (EPO) and the Unified Patent Court (UPC).rnrnThis dual expertise allows us to work across all industries and to operate closely with in-house teams, securing their decisions and strengthening their competitive position.

## *our* Capabilities

### (01) Patent Filing Strategies and Drafting, Freedom-to-Operate

Before any product launch, fundraising, or Mu0026amp;A transaction, we assess your freedom to operate and draft patents designed to withstand judicial scrutiny. Our recommendations anticipates technical developments, incorporates unitary patent strategies and opt-out options, and identifies third-party patents that could block your activities. Drawing on extensive litigation experience and secondments within companies, we turn each filing into a negotiation tool. A well-structured patent becomes an asset as reliable as a property title.

### (02) Valuation, Licensing, and Contract Negotiation and Drafting

Assignments, exclusive or cross-licenses, co-ownership, co-development agreements, and pledges: we negotiate and formalize the contracts that finance growth and strengthen innovation portfolios. In Mu0026amp;A transactions, we audit target patents, structure warranties, and manage rights transfers across multiple jurisdictions. Our teams balance legal control and economic performance while anticipating execution risks. Every agreement reflects a long-term strategic vision.

### (03) Pharma and Medical Device Patent Advisory and Litigation

We advise and represent originator pharmaceutical companies, generic manufacturers and biosimilar producers in patent validity and infringement disputes covering active molecules, formulations and second medical use patents. Our practice sits at the intersection of patent law, pharmaceutical regulation and related proceedings, including supplementary protection certificates (SPCs), infringement seizure orders obtained from the ANSM, and challenges to marketing authorisations. By coordinating these strategies, we help protect therapeutic innovation while preserving market competitiveness.

### (04) Employee Inventions Counseling and Litigation

We design and secure employee invention policies, including supplemental compensation programs, settlement agreements, and proceedings before the French National Commission for Employee Inventions or the courts. Working with our Labor u0026amp; Employment Law team, we tailor strategies to economic and human stakes and select the most effective procedural routes. Managing employee inventions contributes to talent retention and innovation governance, embedding intellectual property into corporate culture.

### (05) Insurance and Industrial Risk

In cases involving corporate or executive liability, product liability, or professional negligence, we defend your interests in collaboration with our Litigation team and a network of technical and financial experts. We analyze insurance policies and anticipate risks linked to products, technologies, and cross-liabilities in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, automotive, telecommunications, technology, and consumer goods. Our dual legal and scientific expertise enables a comprehensive understanding of industrial risk.

### (06) Patent Disputes Before Patent Offices (EPO and INPI)

Oppositions, appeals, limitations, third-party observations: we defend and challenge patents before the European Patent Office and the French Patent Office (INPI), handling both technical and procedural aspects. Our patent attorneys, who appear before these offices on a daily basis, design strategies that anticipate national effects and subsequent litigation. By mobilizing witnesses and technical experts, we build robust cases that withstand adversarial scrutiny. This continuity between filing, opposition, and enforcement creates a lasting competitive advantage.

### (07) Patent Litigation Before National Courts and the Unified Patent Court

In infringement and invalidity actions, we develop integrated litigation strategies before national courts and the Unified Patent Court. We assess the balance between defense, counterattack, and settlement, activate emergency measures, and leverage related areas of commercial and administrative law. Our pan-European approach ensures consistency in legal positions and control over judicial timelines. Each action is designed to safeguard the company’s business momentum and operational continuity.

### (08) Industrial Property Training

We share our expertise through training programs delivered to clients, professional organizations, trade associations, and universities (CEIPI, EFB, IEEPI, Politecnico di Milano, CentraleSupélec, ENSTA, Ponts ParisTech). Tailored to each audience, including legal teams, engineers, works councils, sales forces, and students, our training covers key topics such as industrial property strategy, patent litigation, infringement seizures, and contract negotiation. Since 2018, we have hosted our “Patent Workshops,” a forum where practitioners exchange insights and best practices.

Collective excellencernrnat the service of the  
 *highest standards*

Team

[Grégoire Desrousseaux ( European Patent Attorney, Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/gregoire-desrousseaux/)

[Lionel Martin ( European Patent Attorney, Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/lionel-martin/)

[François Pochart ( European Patent Attorney, Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/francois-pochart/)

[Pierre-Olivier Ally ( Counsel )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/pierre-olivier-ally/)

[Julia Cohen-Solal ( Counsel, European Patent Attorney )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/julia-cohen-solal/)

[Océane Millon de La Verteville ( Counsel )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/oceane-millon-de-la-verteville/)

[Geoffroy Thill ( Counsel, European Patent Attorney )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/geoffroy-thill/)

[Martin Brion ( European Patent Attorney, Senior Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/martin-brion/)

[Candice Dupin ( Senior Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/candice-dupin/)

[Jeanne Morel-Fourrier ( Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/jeanne-morel-fourrier/)

[Mayeul Ottaviani ( Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/mayeul-ottaviani/)

[Antoine Lerond ( European Patent Attorney, French Patent Attorney )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/antoine-lerond/)

[Mehdi Mahammedi-Bouzina ( European Patent Attorney, French Patent Attorney )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/mehdi-mahammedi-bouzina/)

[Yannick Pereira ( European Patent Attorney, French Patent Attorney )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/yannick-pereira/)

[Thomas Gentil ( Patent Engineer )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/thomas-gentil/)

[Matthieu Le Cacheux ( Patent Engineer )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/matthieu-le-cacheux/)

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## Contact Us

## *our* References

Patents

#### Dating App – AI Compliance and Content Moderation

Advised an international dating platform on deploying an automated content moderation system, ensuring alignment with the DSA, French law, and internal compliance standards.

Patents

#### Consumer Goods Group – Infringement Action before the UPC

Advised a global consumer goods company in an infringement action before the French local division of the Unified Patent Court, including a counterclaim for revocation and management of procedural exchanges.

Patents

#### Pharmaceutical Company – Patent Litigation and Generic Launches

Advised an international pharmaceutical company on patent, SPC and regulatory issues related to generic launches, as well as in multiple European infringement and invalidity proceedings.

*Rankings* & Recognitions

m

- (01)Le Point 2026 – France Industrial property law
- (02)Legal 500 2026 – France Intellectual Property : Patents
- (03)Legal 500 2025 – Global Intellectual Property : Patents

[More distinctions](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/distinctions/?search_tax-expertise%5B%5D=patents)

## *Latest* News

[19/06/26 Legal Article 15 min The new confidentiality regime attached to in-house counsel legal opinions: what impact on preliminary investigative measures such as the seizure of infringing goods (“saisie-contrefaçon”) or measure based on article 145 of the French civil procedure code?](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/legal-article/the-new-confidentiality-regime-attached-to-in-house-counsel-legal-opinions-what-impact-on-preliminary-investigative-measures-such-as-the-seizure-of-infringing-goods-saisie-contrefacon/)

[09/01/26 Legal Article 4 min InterDigital v Amazon: The UPC pushback against ASI-Equivalent interim licensing in a post-Brexit landscape In a post-Brexit context falling outside the scope of EU Regulation No 1215/2012 (Brussels I bis), the Local Division of Mannheim the UPC, in its Order of 22 December 2025 (UPC_CFI_936/2025), confirmed in full its ex parte order of 30 September 2025, rejecting Amazon’s application for review.](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/legal-article/interdigital-v-amazon-the-upc-pushback-against-asi-equivalent-interim-licensing-in-a-post-brexit-landscape/)

[12/12/25 Legal Article 6 min Pharma Package – Deal at the EU level on a major pharma reform The European Parliament and the Council of the EU have reached a provisional agreement on the Pharma Package, the most significant overhaul of EU pharmaceutical law in the past twenty years. The reform introduces a new directive and regulation that update regulatory data protection rules, expand the Bolar exemption, strengthen obligations on medicine supply and market continuity, and create a new transferable exclusivity voucher to incentivize priority antibiotic development. The…](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/legal-article/pharma-package-deal-at-the-eu-level-on-a-major-pharma-reform/)

[14/11/25 Legal Article 14 min Warning letters and disparagement: a recent Supreme Court ruling on copyright and its potential repercussions on patent law In its decision of 15 October 2025 (Cass. Com. No. 24-11.150), the French Supreme Court adopted a particularly strict approach to disparagement. It held that, in the absence of a court ruling establishing copyright infringement, merely informing third parties of a possible infringement constitutes an act of disparagement under Article 1240 of the French Civil Code. The ruling, issued in a copyright dispute, sanctions the sending of warning letters to…](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/legal-article/warning-letters-and-disparagement-a-recent-supreme-court-ruling-on-copyright-and-its-potential-repercussions-on-patent-law/)

[06/11/25 Legal Article 2 min August Debouzy at IAM Live: Navigating the UPC 2025 On 5 November, August Debouzy took part in IAM Live: Navigating the UPC 2025, one of the key international events dedicated to the Unified Patent Court. The conference brought together leading corporate legal officers, patent attorneys, lawyers, and judges to discuss recent developments, practical challenges, and opportunities arising from the UPC’s first years of operation.](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/legal-article/august-debouzy-at-iam-live-navigating-the-upc-2025/)

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[Find our latest news](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/le-hub/)
News

## FAQ

### (01) How does a law firm specializing in patents define your filing strategy and freedom-to-operate?

The strength of a patent determines freedom-to-operate, asset value and investor confidence. Article L. 611-2 of the French Intellectual Property Code grants patents a twenty-year term of protection from the filing date, and utility certificates a ten-year term. We define national, European and international filing strategies aligned with your market objectives, draft claims and descriptions, conduct freedom-to-operate studies and manage proceedings before the INPI and EPO. Each filing decision is calibrated to maximize the scope of protection and anticipate litigation risks.

### (02) How can you monetize a patent portfolio through licensing and contract negotiations?

A patent portfolio creates value only if it is actively exploited, licensed or monetized. Negotiating licences, coexistence agreements, collaborative Ru0026amp;D contracts or title transfers requires mastery of technical, legal and commercial issues. We structure monetization agreements by defining licence scope, royalties, territorial exclusivity clauses and dispute resolution mechanisms. Our expertise also covers portfolio audits in Mu0026amp;A transactions and intellectual property asset valuations for investors.

### (03) What specific issues arise with pharmaceutical patents, medical devices and employee inventions?

The healthcare sector demands close coordination between patent law, health regulation and competition law. Article L. 611-2, 3° of the French Intellectual Property Code provides that supplementary protection certificates (SPCs) take effect upon patent expiry for a maximum of seven years and seventeen years from the grant of the marketing authorization. We handle SPCs, oppositions, disputes relating to marketing authorizations and clinical trials. Additionally, managing employee inventions is a significant asset issue: we advise on qualification, compensation and dispute prevention.

### (04) How does a patent law firm support industrial risk management and team training?

Risks related to infringement, insurance coverage of intangible assets and industrial claims require cross-cutting expertise. We advise on structuring insurance programs covering industrial property risks and assist clients in managing claims related to infringement or patent disputes. We also deliver industrial property training programs for Ru0026amp;D teams, legal departments and executives, strengthening the culture of innovation protection within the organization.

### (05) How can you defend your patents before patent offices and the Unified Patent Court?

Effective patent protection depends on the ability to act before patent offices (EPO, INPI) and courts. Regulation (EU) No 1257/2012, applicable since 1 June 2023, established the European patent with unitary effect, providing uniform protection across participating member states. We act before the EPO and INPI (oppositions, appeals, limitations) and before the UPC and national courts (infringement, preliminary injunctions, declaratory non-infringement, FRAND disputes). Our attorneys and EPO-qualified representatives, authorized before the UPC, coordinate proceedings to optimize each position.

### (06) Why choose August Debouzy as your law firm for patents in France?

Our integrated team of lawyers and patent attorneys, predominantly science-qualified, EPO-accredited representatives and UPC-authorized practitioners, operates across all technology sectors. From filing strategy to litigation defence, from portfolio monetization to employee invention management, we combine legal rigour, scientific expertise and business intelligence. This dual legal and technical capability allows us to work closely with client teams to secure their decisions and strengthen their competitive position.