Working in a team of four, Jochen Ehlers and Volkmar Henke have reported on grace periods for patents on invitation of the German Group of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI). The report has been published in the August issue of GRUR Int. Besides exploring grace periods historically, the authors weigh the conflicting interests and take a stand considered appropriate from the German perspective. Together with the work of the international groups, the report will be contributing to the work of AIPPI’s Executive Committee at its upcoming meeting in September in Helsinki. The meeting’s main objective will be to reach an internationally agreed common position which is to serve as a guideline for national legislators.