The European Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court

After much planning and discussion, the Unitary Patent (UP) and the Unified Patent Court (UPC) launched in Europe on 1 June 2023. Our team of experts has put together a range of materials to help better understand the UPC and how it may affect you. Please get in touch with our team below if you would like to speak to us more about this.

Intellectual property

The EU's draft standard essential patents regulation: what you need to know

Reform would radically alter European SEP licensing by focusing on alternative dispute resolution: how would it work?

15/11/2023

Read time 6m

Intellectual property

European Parliament committees and EPO issue opinions on draft SEP regulations

Commission's proposals would drastically change the landscape of standard essential patent licensing disputes in the EU

15/11/2023

Read time 5m

Unified Patent Court

New judicial code of conduct addresses partiality concerns over UPC part-time technical judges

A new code supplements rules on judicial independence and impartiality in the Unified Patent Court Agreement and Statute

08/06/2023

Read time 2m

Unified Patent Court

French, German and Italian UPC local divisions to now offer English as alternative language of proceedings

A late-stage U-turn may not provide claimants with as much control over language of proceedings as it initially appears

01/06/2023

Read time 1m

Unified Patent Court

UPC publishes list of the acceptable languages before the local and regional divisions

The language of proceedings has caused controversy but the system adopted provides some flexibility for claimants

31/05/2023

Read time 2m

Intellectual property

UPC: former London Central Division competences provisionally split between Paris and Munich

With the UK no longer participating, cases due to have been heard in London will be heard for now in...

23/05/2023

Read time 1m

Intellectual property

Case management system problems for UPC underscore need to file opt-outs immediately

Application surge has highlighted that immediate action is required to avoid missing the 'sunrise' deadline

23/05/2023

Read time 2m

Intellectual property

Unified Patent Court: the basics

The UPC will soon be operational and getting to grips with the basics of how it operates is essential

15/02/2023

Read time 1m

Intellectual property

Long-arm jurisdiction: how remedies can extend to non-UPC states

UPC jurisdiction may be broader than it first appeared but questions remain about its reach over third-state defendants

07/02/2023

Read time 6m

Intellectual property

UPC action points: opting out of the EU's Unified Patent Court

Attitudes towards UPC opt-outs will depend on the proprietor and their patents but options should be weighed up now

03/02/2023

Read time 6m

Intellectual property

Unified Patent Court: an introduction to the UPC's general jurisdiction

Knowing the UPC's competence and international jurisdiction rules is vital to understand what it can hear and reach

26/01/2023

Read time 8m

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Bite-size Insights

The Unified Patent Court

When will the new system enter into force?

How does Brexit impact the UPC?

Can EP's be challenged in the UPC?

How much will a Unitary Patent cost?

Do I need to take action for my patent portfolio and contracts?

Will Unitary Patents replace European patents?

Resources

Unified Patent Courts: the Basics

Read our interactive booklet

Unitary Patents and the Unified Patent Court: FAQs

Read our FAQs guide

Watch our webinar on The Unified Patent Court

This webinar explores the new opportunities for enforcing European patent rights arising from the dawn of the Unified Patent Court, strategic and practical considerations for enforcing patents in this new venue, and the importance of developing an enforcement strategy that maximises the potential benefits from both UPC and non-UPC actions.

Watch on demand here

Dr Robyn Trigg

Senior Knowledge Lawyer, UK

+ 44 20 7105 7338 Email Robyn Full biog

Arty Rajendra

Partner, Head of IP Disputes, UK

+44 207 105 7850 Email Arty Full biog

Dr Johannes Graf Ballestrem, LL.M.

Partner, Germany

+49 221 5108 4394 Email Johannes Full biog

Xavier Pican

Partner, IP/ IT, France

+33 1 84 82 45 88 Email Xavier Full biog

Valentin de le Court

Partner, Head of IP, Belgium

+ 32 2 515 93 62 Email Valentin Full biog

Dr Tim Reinhard

Partner, Wirtschaftsmediator (MuCDR), Germany

+49 89 5434 8024 Email Tim Full biog

Dr Agnieszka Sztoldman

Counsel, Poland

+48 503 973 626 Email Dr Agnieszka Full biog

Tim Harris

Partner, UK

+44 207 105 7144 Email Tim Full biog

Will James

Partner, International Life Sciences and Healthcare Sector Leader, UK

+44 207 105 7774 Email Will Full biog

Trevor Crosse

Partner, UK

+ 44 20 7105 7329 Email Trevor Full biog

Ethan Plumb

Associate, UK

+44 207 105 7049 Email Ethan Full biog

Dr Stephan Reisner

Counsel, Germany

+49 221 5108 4334 Email Stephan Full biog

Christophe Arfan

Senior Associate, France

+33 1 84 82 41 15 Email Christophe Full biog

Belgium

China

France

Germany

India

Italy

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Singapore

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UK

USA

Belgium

China

France

Germany

India

Italy

Poland

Singapore

Spain

Sweden

The Netherlands

UK

USA

The European Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court