Dr. Martin Grund

Dr. Martin Grund
Founder & Partner

European Patent Attorney
UPC Representative
Patentanwalt / German Patent Attorney
European Trademark & Design Attorney

Admissions.

Professional Representative before the European Patent Office
Representative before the Unified Patent Court (UPC)
German Patent & Trademark Office
German Federal Patent Court
German Supreme Court for patent nullity proceedings
European Court of Justice (case C-34/10, Oliver Bruestle v Greenpeace e.V, 2011)
Austrian Patent Office
WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization)
European Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO)

Speak to me.
German and English

About me.

Martin has been practicing as a European Patent Attorney and European Trademark & Design Attorney since 1999 and a German Patent Attorney since 1997, and is the founding member of Grund IP Group, which opened its doors in January, 2006.

Dr. Grund began his patent career in 1994 at the Dr. Volker Vossius Law Firm in Munich, Germany, where he eventually became Partner and leader of the firm’s biotechnology patent group from 2001 through the end of 2005. He also had the opportunity to represent before the German Supreme Court (BGH) and the European Court of Justice in a contentious case relating to the patenting of human embryonic stem cells (case C-34/10, Oliver Bruestle v Greenpeace e.V, decided 18 October 2011).

In addition to his duties at Grund IP Group, Martin is a lecturer for the TÜV-Akademie biotechnology education series and for the “International & Comparative Intellectual Property Law” annual summer program (Munich, Germany) sponsored by the Santa Clara University School of Law, and directed by world-renowned copyright expert Professor Tyler Ochoa.

My Comfort Zone.

European, German and International patent, trademark, and design prosecution, including German utility models; opposition proceedings and appeal hearings before the European Patent Office; nullity proceedings and patent infringement litigation before the German Federal Patent Courts, German Supreme Court and the European Courts of Justice; drafting of patent non-infringement and validity opinions; contracts, including patent licensing agreements and patent assignments; due diligence analysis for both domestic and international transactions; freedom to operate opinions; counseling clients with respect to patent portfolio strategy and management and issues relating to German employee invention rights.

Education.

Ph.D. (Dr. rer. nat.), Biological Sciences, University of Bielefeld (1994)
Dipl.-Biol., Biology, with emphasis on genetics, University of Bielefeld (1990)

Memberships.

European Patent Institute of Professional Representatives at the European Patent Office (EPI)
German Patent Attorneys Association (Patentanwaltskammer)
Fédération Internationale des Conseils en Propriété Industrielle / International Federation of Patent Attorneys (FICPI)
Bundesverband deutscher Patentanwälte (National German Patent Attorneys Association)
GRUR, Geschäftsstelle der Deutschen Vereinigung für gewerblichen Rechtsschutz und Urheberrecht (Office of the German Association for Commercial Legal Protection & Copyright)
Vereinigung für allgemeine und angewandte Mikrobiologie (German Association for General & Applied Microbiology)
German correspondent for the magazine Bio-Science Law Review

Select Abstracts & Publications.

Publications:

Grund, Dr. Martin, Farmer, Dr. Stacey J. and Schraml, Dr. Laura (2020) „The German constitutional court says „nein“ to the UPC“, Bio-Science Law Review, Vol. 18. (PDF)

Eichner, Dr. Aleander and Grund, Dr. Martin (2019) „Patentability of Plants Obtained by Essentially Biological Processes: Decision T 1063/18 and the Subsequent Referral to the Enlarged Board of Appeal by the President of the EPO (G3.19)“, Bio-Science Law Review, Vol. 17, Issue 2, pp. 59-60.
https://www.lawtext.com/publication/bio-science-law-review/contents/volume-17/issue-2

Mester, Farmer and Grund (2017) „EPO Enlarged Board of Appeal Decision G 1/15: Poisonous Divisionals Detoxified“, Bio-Science Law Review, Vol. 16, Issue 1.
https://www.lawtext.com/publication/bio-science-law-review/contents/volume-16/issue-1

Farmer and Grund, Patentability of Vaccines (2014), Springer, Molecular Vaccines, Vol. 2.
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-00978-0_25

Farmer and Grund (2013) „Neural Precusor Cells II: Decision of the German Supreme Court X ZR 58/07 Brüstle /Greenpeace“, Bio-Science Law Review, Vol. 13, Issue 1.
https://www.lawtext.com/publication/bio-science-law-review/contents/volume-13/issue-1

Grund and Schleef (2013) „Minicircle Patents: A Short IP Overview of Optimizing Nonviral DNA Vectors“, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, Germany.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9783527670420.ch1

Grund, Dr. Martin and Farmer, Dr. Stacey J. (2012) „Brüstle v Greenpeace: The End of The Road for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Patents“, Bio-Science Law Review, Vol. 12, Issue 2.

Grund, Dr. Martin (2011) „Anmerkungen zum Urteil C-34/10 des EuGH über die Auslegung in Bezug auf die Biopatentrichtlinie und embryonale Stammzellen in der Sache Brüstle v. Greenpeace“, Mitteilungen der Patentanwälte, pp. 514- 515.

Grund, Dr. Martin (2011) „EuGH verbietet Patentierung von humanen embryonalen Stammzellen“ (ECJU forbids the patenting of human embryonic stem cells), BIOspektrum, Vol. 17, Issue 7, p. 832.
https://www.biospektrum.de/blatt/d_bs_pdf&_id=1128971

Grund, Dr. Martin and Farmer, Dr. Stacey J. (2011) „The EU Stem Cell Debate: Can Patenting Stem Cell Innovations be Done Morally?“, Case C34/10 Brüstle v. Greenpeace – AG Bot’s Opinion, Bio-Science Law Review, Vol. 11, Issue 6, pp. 187-192.

Farmer, Dr. Stacey J. and Grund, Dr. Martin (2011) „Patent Pending? EPO Decision Provides Guidance“, Bio-Science Law Review, Vol. 11, Issue 2, pp. 62-66.

Grund, Dr. Martin, Michel, Dr. Sara and Farmer, Dr. Stacey J. (2010) „European Court of Justice to Decide the Fate of Patenting Stem Cells in Europe“, Bio-Science Law Review, Vol. 10, Issue 5, pp. 193-197.

Grund, Dr. Martin (2010) „Patentierung von embryonalen Stammzellen – Update“ („Patenting of Embryonic Stem Cells – Update“), BIOspektrum, Vol 16, Issue 1, p. 121.
https://www.biospektrum.de/blatt/d_bs_pdf&_id=1022046

Burda, Dr. Martin, Grund, Dr. Martin and Farmer, Dr. Stacey (2009) „G2/06: WARF EPO Upholds a Policy of Refusing European Patents for Inventions Covering Products that ‚Can only be Obtained‘ via the Destruction of Human Embryos“, Bio-Science Law Review, Vol. 9, Issue 6, pp. 239-242.

Burda, Dr. Martin and Grund, Dr. Martin (2009) „Die Patentierbarkeit von Produkten aus menschlichen Embryonen“ (The Patentability of Products (obtained) from Human Embryos), BIOspektrum, Vol. 15, Issue 2, p. 208-209.
https://www.biospektrum.de/blatt/d_bs_pdf&_id=985471

Farmer, Dr. Stacey J. and Grund, Dr. Martin (2009) „Revision of the European Patent Convention & Potential Impact on European Patent Practice“, AIPLA Quarterly Journal, Vol. 36, No. 4, pp. 419-453.
https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/aiplaqj36&div=20&id=&page=

Grund, Dr. Martin and Farmer, Dr. Stacey J. (2008) „The ABCs of the EPC 2000“, Managing Intellectual Property, SPECIAL ISSUE: Germany & EPO Focus, pp. 85-88.
https://www.managingip.com/article/b1kcg3qztmqdtk/impact-of-the-epc-2000-the-abcs-of-the-epc-2000

Trips-Herbert, Dr. and Grund, Dr. Martin (2007) „Die Früchte des verbotenen Baumes? Die Patentierung von Stammzellen nach dem ‚Brüstle-Urteil‘ des Bundespatentgerichts und mögliche Fernwirkungen für die pharmazeutische Industrie“ (The Fruit of the Forbidden Tree? The Patentability of Stem Cells after the ‚Brüstle Decision“ (of the German Federal Patent Court) and Possible Lasting Effects for the Pharmaceutical Industry), Pharma Recht, Vol. 10, p. 397.

Grund, Dr. Martin (2007) The London Agreement: „Das Europäische Patent wird günstiger!“ (The European Patent Will be Less Expensive!“), BIOspektrum, Vol. 13, Issue 7, p. 810.
https://www.biospektrum.de/blatt/d_bs_pdf&_id=932069

Grund, Dr. Martin, Richly, Dr. Erik, and Farmer, Dr. Stacey J. (2007) „Patentability of Embryonic Stem Cells in Germany“, Commentary on the German Federal Patent Court decision of December 5, 2006, Bio-Science Law Review, Vol. 8, Issue 4, pp. 164-166.

Grund, Dr. Martin, Richly, Dr. Erik, and Farmer, Dr. Stacey J. (2007) „Das ‚kleine Patent‘ für biotechnologische Erfindungen“ („The ‚petty patent‘ for biotechnology inventions“), BIOspektrum, Vol. 13, Issue 2, pp. 211-212.
https://www.biospektrum.de/blatt/d_bs_pdf&_id=932368

Grund, Dr. Martin (2007) “Umstrittene BPatG – Entscheidung zu humanen embryonalen Stammzellen“ („Controversial German Federal Patent Court Ruling – Decision regarding human embryonic stem cells“), BIOspektrum, Vol. 13, Issue 1, p. 99.
https://www.biospektrum.de/blatt/d_bs_pdf&_id=932428

Grund, Dr. Martin, Richly, Dr. Erik, and Farmer, Dr. Stacey J. (2006) „Is German Utility Model Protection Available for Biotechnology Inventions?“, Bio-Science Law Review, Vol. 8, Issue 3, pp. 123-125.

Grund, Dr. Martin and Burda, Dr. Martin (2005) „The new German patent law fails to transpose EU directive 98/44/EC.“, Bio-Science Law Review, Vol. 7, Issue 3, pp. 128-129.

Grund, Dr. Martin and Burda, Dr. Martin (2005) „Welche Folgen hat die Umsetzung der Biopatentrichtlinie auf die Patentierbarkeit biotechnologischer Erfindungen in Deutschland?“, BIOspektrum, Vol. 11, Issue 6, p. 739.
https://www.biospektrum.de/blatt/d_bs_pdf&_id=934799

Grund, Dr. Martin and Keller, Dr. Christian (2004) „Patentierbarkeit embyronaler Stammzellen“ („Patentability of Embryonic Stem Cells“), Mitteilungen der deutsche Patentanwälte, Vol. 95, Issue 2, pp. 49-56.

Grund, Dr. Martin (2004) „Patentierbarkeit menschlicher embryonaler Stammzellen“ („Patentability of Human Embryonic Stem Cells“), BIOspektrum, Vol. 10, Issue 3, pp. 275-277.
https://www.biospektrum.de/blatt/d_bs_pdf&_id=934202

Grund, Dr. Martin and Keller, Dr. Christian (2003) „Patenting of Biotechnology Inventions in Europe – New Developments“, Bio-Science Law Review, Issue 1, pp. 6-11.

Grund, Dr. Martin (2002) „Das Ende des Hochschullehrerprivilegs“, BIOspektrum, Vol. 8, Issue 3, p. 230.

Grund, Dr. Martin (2002) „Amendment of the German Employee Invention Act“, Bio-Science Law Review, Issue 1, p. 18.

Grund, Dr. Martin (2001) „Kein Patentschutz für menschliche Klonierverfahren“ („No Patent Protection for Human Cloning Procedures“), Bielefelder Universitätszeitung, No. 205, pp. 44-46.

Grund, Dr. Martin (2001) „Will The Human Genome Soon Be Patented? „, Mondaq.
https://mondaq.com/Article/10460

Grund, Dr. Martin (2000) „Patentierbarkeit von transgenen Tieren“ („Patentability of Transgenic Animals“), Mitteilung der deut. Patentanwälte, pp. 328-331.

Grund, Dr. Martin (2000) „Transgene Pflanzen und Tiere sind in Europa patentierbar“ („Transgenic Plants and Animals are Patentable in Europe“), BIOspektrum, Vol. 6, Issue 2, p. 92.

Grund, Dr. Martin (2000) „Ist das menschliche Genom bald patentgeschützt“ („Is the Human Genome soon patentable? „), BIOspektrum, Vol. 6, Issue 4, p. 44.
https://www.biospektrum.de/blatt/d_bs_pdf&_id=933411

Grund, Dr. Martin (2000) „Are Transgenic Plants and Animals now Patentable under the EPC? „ Bio-Science Law Review, Issue 2, pp. 51-55.

Grund, Dr. Martin and Vossius, Dr. Volker (1998) „Patentability of ESTs under the EPC“, Bio-Science Law Review, Issue 3, pp. 106-109.

Grund, Dr. Martin and Vossius, Dr. Volker (1996) „Patentierung des Relaxin-Gens“ („Patentability of the Relaxin Gene Family“), Deutsches Ärzteblatt, Vol. 93, Issue 38, pp. 2384-2388.

Vossius, Dr. Volker and Grund, Dr. Martin (1995) „Patentierung von Teilen des Erbguts „ („Patentability of Partial DNA Sequences“), Mitteilungen der deutsche Patentanwälte, Issue 11, p. 339.

SELECT SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Regular Lecturer at the Santa Clara University School of Law (annual summer program for International and Comparative Intellectual Property Law; Munich, Germany), 2003-2011.
Invited speaker, Wellcome Trust in London, England, Day symposium entitled „Embryonic Stem Cell Research: Beyond Brüstle vs Greenpeace“, December 21, 2011.
Invited Speaker, Biotech Patenting, C5 Conference, Munich, Germany, March 17-18, 2010
Invited Speaker for the „Second Annual Conference on Recombinant Therapeutics“ held February 25-27, 2008, Berlin, Germany.
Lecturer, „Patentability of Biotechnology Inventions in Europe“, University of Bonn (Germany), March 19, 2007.
Lecturer, First International Workshop on Mini-Circle DNA, „Minicircle Patent Situation, An Overview“, held at the University of Bielefeld (Germany), February 22, 2007.
European Tissue Engineering Society, 4th Annual Meeting 2005 (Munich, Germany), „Patenting of Biotechnology Inventions in Europe“, September 2005.
Patentrecht Biotechnologie (Biotecnhology Patent Law Series), TÜV-Akademie, 2001, 2002 2003, 2004.
Updates in Patent Prosecution: A European Perspective; Participant on a panel devoted to International Patent Law, BIO (Biotechnology Industry Organization) Conference, San Diego, June, 2001.
Patentability of transgenic plants, animals and ESTs under the EPC, Biotechnology 2000; 11th International Biotechnology Symposium and Exhibition, Berlin, September, 2000.
Patent and Licensing Issues of Cell Culture Systems; Cell Culture and other Alternative Methods for Drug Delivery, Saarbrücken, February, 2000.
Patenting Biotechnology Outside the US with Particular Emphasis on the European Patent Office and Germany; Conference on Biotechnology, Palo Alto, December, 1998.