The European Patent with unitary effect (“Unified Patent”) will be introduced soon. The final missing ratification is expected to be deposited by Germany in December. The unitary patent enables patent protection in many European states. Presently 17 states have ratified the agreement and will participate in the Unitary Patent scheme, namely Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden, see https://www.epo.org/law-practice/unitary/unitary-patent.html. The Council Regulation No 1257/2012 (hereafter “Unitary Patent Regulation”) sets out the details of the unitary patent. Before deciding whether to apply for the Unitary Patent, it should be kept in[...]

It is expected that the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (UPCA) will enter into force in spring 2023. At the same time the European Union regulation 1257/2012 and 1260/2012 will enter into force relating to the European patent with unitary effect (Unitary Patent) and the translation arrangements. The booklet "National measures accompanying the implementation of the Unitary Patent" is inspired by the online publication "National law relating to the EPC" and contains information regarding the most important national measures accompanying the implementation of the Unitary Patent. It is accessible on the website of the EPO. The booklet contains[...]

Background It is expected that the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (UPCA) will enter into force end of 2022 or beginning of 2023. At the same time the European Union regulation 1257/2012 and 1260/2012 will enter into force relating to the European patent with unitary effect (Unitary Patent) and the translation arrangements. The Select Committee of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation has prepared the secondary legislation, in particular the Rules of procedure relating to Unitary Patent Protection and the Rules relating to the Fees for Unitary Patent Protection. Recently, some of the rules have been[...]

La nationalité du brevet en cas de copropriété est déterminée par l’article 7 du règlement 1257/2012 qui indique : «1. En tant qu’objet de propriété, le brevet européen à effet unitaire est assimilé dans son intégralité et dans tous les États membres participants à un brevet national de l’État membre participant dans lequel ce brevet a un effet unitaire et où, conformément au registre européen des brevets: a) le demandeur avait son domicile ou son principal établissement à la date du dépôt de la demande de brevet européen; ou b) lorsque le point a) ne s’applique pas, le demandeur avait[...]