Patent Protection & Patent Enforcement in Europe:
Unitary Patents & the Unified Patent Court

As of next year, companies worldwide will be able to obtain a single Unitary Patent (UP) covering most of the European Union (EU), and there will also be a single Unified Patent Court (UPC), as part of which UPC Judges will be able to hear and determine patent disputes effectively on a pan-EU basis. The introduction of UPs and the new UPC system represents the single biggest change to the patent protection and patent enforcement landscape in Europe over the last four decades.

We have published a client guide to the new Unified Patent Court and Unitary Patents, which is aimed to give readers a brief overview of the new system. Our guide will enable readers to:

• Consider the impact the new regime will have on their business;
• Understand what analysis and assessments their business needs to make before deciding whether to “opt in” or “opt out” its portfolios of European (EPs);
• Consider whether their business should apply for new UPs in the future;
• Understand potential issues in relation to co-ownership, collaborations and licensing.

Our firm’s patent lawyers based in North America, Asia, Australia and Europe already closely work together on a routine basis. The new UPC regime complements our fully integrated European IP practice. We are already working with stakeholders and potential users of the system in advance of the arrival of the new UPC system.

We would be delighted to assist you on any queries you may have on the new regime, as well as help assist your business in preparing for these changes. Please do get in touch with us.

For a copy of our guide, please email Lucy.Collis@nortonrosefulbright.com.