The Unitary Patent package has been a long time coming. Now it’s been agreed, WIPR asks whether it can live up to its billing.
When the European Parliament approved a package for a Unitary Patent (UP) and associated court late last year, it was hailed by some as a triumph of negotiation and cooperation, and evidence that the EU is ready and willing to punch its weight on the world stage.
Benoît Battistelli, president of the European Patent Office (EPO), which will grant the UP, says the agreement is “in keeping with Europe’s continuous efforts to raise its competitiveness and attractiveness”.
“Looking back at the interminable, fruitless debates on this dossier over the decades, one realises the scale of this very recent achievement, establishing not only a simple solution for innovators—covering, for the moment, 25 European countries—but also creating a complete, dedicated litigation system with jurisdiction for so many countries with widely differing legal traditions.”
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Unitary patent, EU, UPC, EPO, Benoit Battistelli