UPC

The Unified Patent Court (UPC) and the European patent with unitary effect (Unitary Patent) may come into full force as early as 2022. A provisional period in which existing, granted European patents and applications may be opted-out from the UPC is expected to start in the months preceeding this. Find the latest news and insights of our Taylor Wessing UPC group on this page.

UPC news:

• 22.01.2021 - New – presumably short – delay of the Unified Patent Court due to two constitutional complaints with expedited motions
• 28.12.2020 - Major step forward for the Unified Patent Court - German Bundesrat approves law on the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court
• 26.11.2020 - Second life for the UPC?

The Unified Patent Court guide

The Taylor Wessing UPC Group have published a useful, go-to guide covering all the key issues of the UPC and how it may affect your business.

• Chapter 1 – What are the UPC and the Unitary Patent
• Chapter 2 – UPC: What is the impact of the new system
• Chapter 3 – How long do proceedings on the merits take and what are the steps?
• Chapter 4 – How does opt-out work?
• Chapter 5 – The costs of using the UPC and the Unitary Patent
• Chapter 6 – Potential advantages and disadvantages for your business
• Chapter 7 – How can Taylor Wessing help you?
• Chapter 8 – The Taylor Wessing UPC Group

Our Unified Patent Court guide is currently being updated. 

Useful links

• The UPC Agreement (PDF)
• Unitary Patent Regulation (PDF)
• Unified Patent Court
• Translations Regulation (PDF)
• 18th draft Rules of Procedure (15 March 2017 update) (PDF)