2014
UK IP Office publishes UPC IT Tender Notice
December 16, 2014
The UK IP Office (IPO) published a tender notice for the procurement of the UPC’s IT system. Read more.
EU Unified Patent Court Update
November 18, 2014
The European Patent system is in the final stages of a significant change. Read more.
EPO Implements New Examination Guidelines
November 1, 2014
The EPO has implemented new Guidelines for Examination, which are based on recent decisions by the EPO Boards of Appeal. Read more.
Preparatory Committee Publishes 17th Draft Rules of Procedure
October 31, 2014
On October 31, 2014, the Preparatory Committee of Europe’s Unified Patent Court (UPC) published the 17th Draft Rules of Procedure, with a digest that highlights the latest changes. Read more.
UPC IT e-Filing System
October 7, 2014
A prototype e-filing and case management system, based on UPC draft Rules of Procedure 13-28, is available online for testing. Read more.
EU Unified Patent Court Update
October 1, 2014
As of October 1, 2014, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France and Sweden have all fully ratified the Agreement. Read more.
UPC publishes updated Roadmap
September 17, 2014
The Preparatory Committee of the UPC published an updated Roadmap on September 17, 2014. Read more.
Expert Panel established to advise the Preparatory Committee
September 16, 2014
On September 16, 2014, the Chairman of the Unified Patent Court announced the establishment of an Expert Panel to advise the Preparatory Committee on various work streams. Read more.
Preparatory Committee approves list of Candidate Judges
July 10, 2014
At the sixth Preparatory Committee meeting on July 10, 2014, the Committee approved a list of candidate judges deemed suitable by the Advisory Panel to judge the Unified Patent Court. Read more.
Spain’s second challenge to the UPC
July 1, 2014
On July 1, 2014, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) heard the second legal action brought by Spain, challenging the legality of the new UPC. Read more.
Denmark ratifies UPC Agreement
June 20, 2014
On June 20, 2014, Denmark deposited its instrument of ratification in Brussels with the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union. Read more.
Belgium ratifies UPC Agreement
June 6, 2014
On June 6, 2014, Belgium became the fourth EU member state to ratify the UPC Agreement, joining Sweden, Austria, and France. Read more.
Sweden ratifies the UPC Agreement
June 5, 2014
On June 5, 2014, Sweden became the third EU member state to complete its ratification of the UPC Agreement, joining France and Austria. Read more.
Denmark approves referendum to join the UPC
May 25, 2014
The Danish referendum on joining the Unified Patent Court was held in Denmark on May 25, 2014 alongside the European Parliament elections. Read more.
Royal Assent granted for UK Intellectual Property bill
May 14, 2014
On May 14, 2014, the UK Intellectual Property bill, authorizing the ratification of the UPC, received Royal Assent. Read more.
Belgium approves ratification of UPC Agreement
April 23, 2014
On April 23, 2014, the Belgian House of Representatives voted to adopt the law authorizing Belgium to ratify the Unified Patent Court Agreement, completing the passage of the draft law through the Federal Parliament (the Belgian Senate approved the law earlier this year). Read more.
Strong Support from UPC Candidate Judges
March 31, 2014
The Advisory Panel for the UPC reported that they received over 1300 candidate judge applications. Read more.
Revised Timeline for UPC
March 18, 2014
At its fifth meeting held on March 18, 2014, the Preparatory Committee for the Unified Patent Court (UPC) announced that it will be necessary to revise its target date for the launch of the UPC. Read more.
Training Center for UPC Judges opens in Budapest
March 13, 2014
The dedicated UPC Training Center opened in Budapest on March 13, 2014, and will serve as the main office for training the new Court’s judges. Read more.
Preparatory Committee of the UPC releases new set of draft Rules of Procedure
March 6, 2014
The Preparatory Committee released the 16th draft of the Rules of Procedure for the Unified Patent Court. Read more.
Agreement Reached to create Nordic-Baltic Regional Division of the UPC
March 4, 2014
On March 4, 2014, Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia signed an agreement to establish a Nordic-Baltic regional division of the Unified Patent Court, to be located in Stockholm. Read more.
French President enacts law ratifying UPC Agreement
February 25, 2014
President François Hollande promulgated the law to ratify the UPC Agreement. Read more.
France approves ratification of UPC Agreement
February 13, 2014
The Assemblée Nationale (French Parliament) passed a bill authorizing the ratification of the UPC Agreement on February 13, 2014. Read more.
Interpretive Note released on the application of Article 83
January 29, 2014
With various viewpoints on the consequences of opting out of the UPC Agreement, on January 29, 2014 the Preparatory Committee issued an Interpretive Note on the application of Article 83. Read more.