Latest news and updates on the Unified Patent Court

18.07.2022

UPC website publishes amended Rules of Procedure

Following its 8 July meeting in Luxembourg, the Administrative Committee of the UPC has published its amended Rules of Procedure. While the committee proposed several updates to the overall document, perhaps most striking is its changes to the rules around opting out for patent proprietors and applicants. For example, it has included a totally new rule in Rule 5 A, entitled ‘Application to remove an unauthorised application to opt out or unauthorised withdrawal of an opt-out.’

In the interest of transparency, the document also provides explanatory notes on the developments, for example regarding 5 A, ‘This new rule determines how the Court has to deal with an unauthorized application to opt out or an unauthorized withdrawal of an opt-out (sic).’

The amended rules make concessions towards the much-debated issue of transparency and public access to judgments, as well as to the application of video conferencing in UPC proceedings. Much is also concerned with procedural issues, such as compliance with certain regulations laid out under the UPCA. The website also contains other documents from the 8 July meeting, for example amendments to service and staff regulations, decisions for the set-up of local and regional divisions, and information on fees.

JUVE Patent will publish a more detailed analysis of the new Rules of Procedure in due course.

14.07.2022

UPC Administrative Committee publishes outcomes of 8 July meeting

The UPC’s Administrative Committee has today published a general outline of the outcome of its meeting on 8 July 2022, which much of the patent community is awaiting with interest.

A statement on the UPC website indicates that, among its decisions, the committee confirmed the setting-up of local and regional divisions of the Court of First Instance; adopted the Court’s Rules of Procedure and its Table of Fees, as well as its regulations on duty travel; adopted a medical and social security plan, pension scheme and internal tax of the UPC; and was presented with a recommended list of UPC judicial candidates.

It confirms the Administrative Committee will decide the latter before the official summer break in August. According to the website, following efficient adoption of the measures by the UPC member states, it is very likely the UPC will start in early 2023.

13.07.2022

Ibec urges Irish government to confirm UPC ratification timetable

The group representing Irish business, Ibec, has called on Ireland’s government to urgently set out a timetable for Ireland’s ratification of the Unified Patent Court Agreement. Appearing before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Ibec said that “a failure to urgently act risks seeing Ireland miss out substantial opportunities for economic growth.”

Last month, Ireland’s government committed to holding a referendum on participation in the UPC, although this will not take place before 2023 or 2024 at the latest.

In a statement to the committee, Ibec Corporate IP Group chair Naoise Gaffney said, “An attractive and timely-established Local Division in Dublin will support the further expansion of the patent-intensive sectors across the country… This is expected to contribute at least €415m or 0.13% in GDP growth per annum. It could rise to as much as €1.663bn or 0.5% in GDP growth. There will also be increased expenditure and employment in legal, professional, and other technical advisory services.”

08.07.2022

Administrative Committee confirms final Rules of Procedure

Today, the UPC Administrative Council met to finalise the court’s Rules of Procedure, taking into account amendments suggested by the European Commission. According to JUVE Patent sources, the committee approved the amended rules, which will be implemented from 1 September 2022.

On 8 July, the committee is also deliberating on which judges will preside over cases at the Unified Patent Court. However, this information is not likely to be confirmed until August.

30.06.2022

Ireland’s government commits to UPC referendum

In an announcement published by the country’s Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the government of Ireland has reaffirmed its commitment to holding a public referendum on participation in the Unified Patent Court.

If it goes ahead, which is not likely to be until 2023 or 2024 at the latest, it will allow the UPC to create a local division in the Irish capital of Dublin.

21.06.2022

UPC sets date to begin deciding on judges

From 8 July, the UPC Administrative Committee will begin deciding on the supranational court’s 90-strong judicial bench.

Following calls in 2016 and 2019 for legal and technical judges, the Advisory Committee received over 1000 applications, eventually inviting 170 to interview with the view to appoint 90. The committee breaks this down into five full-time and 35 part-time legally-qualified judges, as well as 50 part-time technically-qualified judges. For each position, the Advisory Committee made two recommendations.

More information is available in a long read on JUVE Patent’s site here.

08.04.2022

UPC Advisory Committee begins judges’ interviews

The UPC Advisory Committee has begun the interview process for its judicial bench, which according to a press release will continue until the end of May. Once the interviews have been conducted, the committee will provide its recommendations to the Administrative Committee. In the current timeline, the latter committee will appoint the UPC judges before the summer break begins in July.

The committee is also working on the procurement of a medical and social security plan, while also finalising the UPC IT system – long a point of discussion for its potential users. Importantly, this also includes a case management system. According to the Advisory Committee, it is also finalising corporate functions and developing a new website.

It is expected that the court will begin operation in late 2022 or early 2023.

25.03.2022

EPO organises two Unitary Patent IT workshops

The European Patent Office has announced that it is running two online workshops on the upcoming Unitary Patent. The UPC will offer Unitary Patents, which ensure patent holders receive patent protection in up to 25 EU member states by submitting a single request to the EPO. Once the EPO grants a patent, the patent holder can request unitary effect in the form of a Unitary Patent.

The first session runs over two workshops, on 7 April from 16.00 -18.00 CET and 8 April from 9.00 – 11.00 CET. Attendees must register by 31 March, and can do so here or here.

22.03.2022

UK patent attorneys can represent clients at UPC

The UPC Administrative Committee has now published the final version of the Rules on Representation regarding patent attorneys. It confirms that EPO-registered European patent attorneys living in an EPO member state can act on behalf of clients. Importantly, patent attorneys must also have a recognised litigation qualification from a listed institution.

This means that UK patent attorneys will be able to represent clients at the UPC. The committee also announced a one-year grace period, from when the court launches, during which the required conditions can be met.

18.03.2022

Advisory Committee for selecting UPC judges now complete

On 22 February 2022, the Administrative Committee, which leads preparations for the Unified Patent Court, appointed its Advisory Committee. This is a subcommittee tasked with selecting UPC judges.

The Advisory Committee includes numerous active and former judges with patent or IP experience, such as the French honorary judge Sylvie Mandel and former German Federal Court of Justice judge, Joachim Bornkamm. Both were previously involved in preparing the application and training process of future UPC judges. Thus, their appointment to the committee is no surprise.

A full list of members is available here.

02.03.2022

UPC Budget Committee holds inaugural meeting

The UPC Budget Committee has held its first meeting via hybrid format, in which it adopted its Rules of Procedure and set its legal framework. The Budget Committee meeting comes off the back of the UPC Administrative Committee’s inaugural meeting, which it held at the end of February 2022.

In the Budget Committee meeting, Bruno Leboullenger was appointed as chairman, with Theis Bødker Jensen taking deputy chairman. According to the UPC, following this meeting, “Contracting member states taking part in the period of provisional application will be called to make their first contribution for the Court’s budget, under the provisions of the Financial Regulations of the Court.”

23.02.2022

UPC Administrative Committee holds inaugural meeting

On 23 February 2022, the UPC announced that its Administrative Committee had held its inaugural meeting, via a hybrid mix of video and in-person representation, in Luxembourg. The country hosts the seat of the Court of Appeal and the Registry. The announcement comes after the entry into force of the UPC’s Provisional Application Phase (PAP), which commenced after Austria deposited its instrument of ratification early this year.

Among other things, the committee appointed members of the UPC Advisory Committee, which is tasked with interviewing judicial UPC candidates. The committee also adopted the Rules of Procedure and important instruments of the Court’s secondary legislation. It also set out service and staff, and financial, regulations.

27.01.2022

EPO announces measures for early uptake of Unitary Patent

The European Patent Office intends to make two transitional measures available for European patent applications that have reached the final phase of the grant procedure, before the UPC comes into effect at the end of 2022. The measures will become accessible once Germany has deposited the instrument of ratification, which is likely to be in the next six to eight months.

According to the EPO, “[the transitional measures] will be available for European patent applications for which a communication under Rule 71(3) EPC has been dispatched, i.e. which have reached the final phase of the grant proceedings”.

The first measure is that the party may file an early request for the unitary patent to take effect. Thus, if the timing meets all above requirements, the EPO can register a patent as a Unitary Patent as soon as the UPC system begins. Secondly, parties may request a delayed grant, whereby a party receives a Rule 71(3) communication despite the text has not yet having been approved.

19.01.2022

UPC preparation phase officially begins

On 19 January 2022, Austria deposited its instrument of ratification of the PAP with the European Council. As a result, the PAP will enter into force immediately and preparation for the Unified Patent Court can officially start.

Austria was the 13th member state that still needed to deposit its instrument of ratification and trigger the PAP. At the beginning of December 2021, the Austrian parliament ratified the UPC protocol. At the time, it did not deposit the instrument with the European Council. However, from the 19 January, the UPC officially began its preparatory phase.

02.12.2021

UPC Provisional Application Phase can begin

Austria is the 13th country to join the Protocol on the Provisional Application of the UPC Agreement. Today, the second chamber of the Austrian Parliament (Bundesrat) approved the Protocol. This completes the parliamentary process in Austria. The approval of the parties was unanimous.

Now the UPC can start its preparatory phase. The next interesting decisions will be the selection of judges and where to locate the pharmaceuticals and chemicals parts of the Central Division following the UK’s departure from the project.

19.11.2021

Austria unanimously approves UPC protocol

The Austrian parliament has adopted the provisional protocol for UPC, with no votes against the motion. It is an important step for the application phase of the UPC to start. However, the next step is the second chamber of the Austrian parliament, the Bundesrat, also voting on the protocol.

28.10.2021

Preparatory Committee meeting suggests UPC could begin in 2021

On 27 October, the UPC Preparatory Committee held a meeting via hybrid format, which brought together associated delegates of the Unified Patent Court. A topic of discussion was the latest ratifications on the PAP by both Slovenia and Germany. The change means that now just one more country must sign the agreement for the court to begin preparations. According to the meeting report, “From the discussions it can be concluded that it is likely that the requirements will be met by the end of the year.”

Chairperson Alexander Ramsay also presented a draft declaration on interpretation of Article 3 of the PAP Protocol. It confirmed that the protocol will enter into force once the required 13 member states become bound by said protocol. In doing so, this recognises that delegates should interpret Article 3 as mirroring Article 89 of the UPCA.

The meeting also provided an overview of the several logistical hurdles the UPC Preparatory Committee is overcoming, such as IT systems and its draft budges, During the meeting, the UPC Protocol of Privileges and Communities also entered into force.

28.09.21

Important step for UPC as Germany ratifies PAP

Only a few days after Slovenia, Germany has also completed the ratification of the protocol on the provisional agreement (PAP) of the Unified Patent Court. As announced by the Ministry of Justice in Berlin, Germany deposited the corresponding ratification instrument in Brussels.

Now, twelve of the required 13 UPC states have ratified the PAP. Austria is expected to complete this step shortly. Here, however, the government must still pass the corresponding law through parliament. As soon as Austria ratifies the PAP, the UPC organising committee can begin important preparations. This will include things such as selection of judges, electing a president, and ensuring all IT infrastructure is properly secured.

27.09.21

Slovenia ratifies PAP on UPC Agreement

Slovenia has finally ratified the protocol on the provisional agreement (PAP) of the Unified Patent Court. This latest development means that just two more countries must ratify before the preparation phase can begin.

According to sources, Slovenia ratified the PAP on the 16 September 2021, although it will only come into force once the Official Gazette (of the Republic of Slovenia) publishes it, likely to be in the coming days.

Now just two more countries need to ratify before the court preparations can begin. This is likely to be Austria and Germany, the latter of which is moving towards depositing the ratification bill for the PAP in autumn following a tumultuous battle to get the UPC through its courts.

14.09.21

UPC requires one more signatory state

The UPC must soon overcome an important hurdle. Before the preparatory work for the new court, as set out in the protocol on the provisional application (PAP), can begin, 13 member states must ratify the PAP.

But so far, according to JUVE Patent sources, only Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Sweden have signed the protocol. According to the German government, it plans to deposit the ratification bill for the PAP this autumn. Austria has signaled that it will also do so in the next two weeks.

This means one more member state must sign the protocol before beginning preparations. Malta, Portugal and Slovenia are considered candidates for the missing ratification.

13.08.21

German president signs ratification bill

German ratification of the UPC Agreement and the protocol on the provisional application (PAP) has overcome another important hurdle. The government published the new UPC law in the Federal Law Gazette. Previously, federal president Frank-Walter Steinmeier had signed the bill.

Although long-awaited, this does not mean that the Unified Patent Court will start soon. UPC officials expect at least eight months of preparation before the court begins officially.

Only when preparations are complete will Germany take the final step of its ratification and deposit the instrument of ratification with the European Council. Germany, France and Italy as well as ten other states must ratify the UPC Treaty in order to bring it into force. The UPC Agreement will enter into force on the first day of the fourth month following the deposit of Germany’s ratification bill.

09.07.21

UPC dream closer after German court rejects constitutional complaints

Today, the German Constitutional Court has rejected two applications for an interim injunction against the German laws for the Unified Patent Court. According to the ruling, the complainants had not sufficiently substantiated the possibility of a violation of their fundamental rights. In all probability, the court will not hear the merits of the case.

Now Germany, and two remaining member states, have a clear road ahead to ratify the UPC. Under the German system, the next step is for the federal president to sign the law.

Speaking exclusively to JUVE Patent, Alexander Ramsay, head of the UPC Preparatory Committee, says, “Given today’s news, we expect Germany to ratify the protocol on provisional application in early autumn. The tasks that the council needs to handle during the provisional application phase should then take at least eight months to complete.”

If everything goes according to plan, we could have a functioning UPC in late 2022 or possibly early 2023, he adds.

11.01.2021

German UPC ratification on hold again

A spokesperson for German federal president Frank-Walter Steinmeier has told JUVE Patent that Steinmeier is currently waiting to execute the UPC law. The German Constitutional Court asked him to wait until it issues a ruling before executing the UPC law.

In the meantime, JUVE Patent received more information about the people behind the second claim against UPC ratification. This time it is not a single person, but a group of claimants. The Constitutional Court confirmed that a private individual, a company and an association are behind the second claim.

Düsseldorf lawyer Ingve Stjerna, the man behind the first constitutional objection, confirmed to JUVE Patent that he has filed another complaint against the UPC law. JUVE Patent is not yet aware how Stjerna has justified his second complaint. Stjerna has also applied for an interim injunction, which would prohibit the conclusion of the ratification procedure until the Federal Constitutional Court has ruled on the merits of the case.

The identity of the second claimant is still unknown.

22.12.20

German UPC legislation challenged again by constitutional complaints

Last Friday, the Federal Constitutional Court again received two complaints against the German UPC legislation. The identity of the plaintiffs and the grounds for the complaints are currently unclear. It is also unclear whether German ratification of the Unified Patent Court will now be put on hold again. The Constitutional Court did not provide any further information except to confirm that it had received the complaints.

Germany is the last country to ratify the UPC before the new court can start.

18.12.20

German Bundesrat approves UPC law, clearing way for UPC

Today, the German parliament has adopted the UPC legislation. In its final meeting of 2020, the German Bundesrat, the second chamber of the German parliament, voted unanimously in favour. Once again, all parliamentary hurdles in Germany are clear.

New approval by the German parliament became necessary after the German Constitutional Court stopped the ratification of the German UPC laws in March. The Constitutional Court requires that both chambers of the parliament approve such international agreements with a two-thirds majority.

27.11.20

German Bundestag votes in favour of UPC law

Yesterday evening, the German Bundestag (parliament) finally voted in favour of the UPC law. With 88% of the votes, parliament delivered the two-thirds cross-party majority required to pass the Act of Approval to the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court. In addition to governing parties CDU/CSU and SPD, members of the FDP, the Greens and the Left Party also voted in favour. Such a broad majority is important, because federal state representatives in the Bundesrat (the second chamber) must also approve the bill by a two-thirds majority. Different party coalitions govern the federal states. The vote in the Bundesrat is expected at the end of December.

But some parties are still considering filing another constitutional claim against the UPC. Yesterday, Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure (FFII) took a combative stance, calling on companies to join it in filing a constitutional claim.

02.10.20

Germany hastens second ratification of UPC

The German Bundestag is to vote next week on the renewed attempt to enact the Unified Patent Court law. The Constitutional Court declared the first ratification invalid in spring and ruled a two-thirds majority was required. According to experts, the new draft is largely unchanged from the first ratification bill. Yesterday the German Bundesrat, the second chamber of parliament, dealt with the ratification law in a first sounding. It had no objections.

As a rule, the federal government uses this first vote to test whether there are reservations in the Second Chamber against proposed legislation. The actual vote follows when the bill has passed the Bundestag.

The Bundestag will now again deal with the UPC ratification in a first reading next week. Insiders say there will be no debate among the members of parliament. Usually the law is referred to the relevant committees for discussion. The Committee on Legal Affairs is the lead committee. The Culture Committee also plays a role. The second hearing in parliament is then decisive.

JUVE Patent sources also say the London divisions will go temporarily to Paris and Munich.

11.09.20

Italian government officially fields Milan for UPC central division

The Council of Ministers in Italy has officially proposed Milan as the host of a central division of the Unified Patent Court. The division would focus on pharmaceutical litigation. The bid comes months after the UK officially withdrew its ratification and left London out of the running.

The mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, had strongly advocated for Milan to host the UPC Central Division. However, the political party Five Star Movement opposed the bid, instead suggesting Turin. While ultimately settling for Milan, the Italian government did reach a compromise. If successful in its bid, Milan will host the UPC’s central division, while Turin will be the seat for the Italian Institute for Artificial Intelligence.

Should the UPC go ahead and Milan’s bid be successful, the northern Italian city will stand alongside Paris and Munich as a key location for UPC litigation activity.

17.07.20

European Commission answers questions on UPC Agreement

Yesterday, the European Commission answered three questions regarding Germany’s ratification of the UPC Agreement following Brexit. German MEP Patrick Breyer, who is opposed to the unitary patent system, submitted the questions to the commission in May 2020.

Breyer’s questions explored whether the commission can confirm that Germany has no right to ratify the UPC Agreement; if the commission will advise the German government against ratification of the current UPC Agreement; and if the commission would launch an infringement procedure if Germany ratified the UPC Agreement as it currently stands.

In its response, the commission confirms that Germany can still ratify the UPC Agreement and rejected the reasoning. The answer confirms that the UK’s withdrawl from the EU as a member state, and its rejection of the UPC Agreement, will not impact the future of a potential UPC. Whether or not Germany will indeed ratify the agreement hinges on a new draft bill and the next decision of the German parliament.

10.06.20

German government perseveres with UPC ratification

After the Federal Constitutional Court overturned the UPC legislation in March this year, the Federal Ministry of Justice has submitted a new draft bill. The interpretation by the ministry is that the Federal Constitutional Court overturned the law “because the law was not passed with a two-thirds majority.” The ministry makes this clear in its draft. At the same time, the ministry does not see any further problems with the law.

Essentially, the German government simply wants to vote on the law again. According to the Federal Ministry of Justice, “The wording of the law is unchanged, but the explanatory memorandum contains necessary updates.”

The ministry has sent the bill to associations and institutions, asking for opinions. The deadline is in three weeks.

26.03.20

German government intends to move forward with UPC

Despite the Federal Constitutional Court’s decision invalidating the German UPC legislation last Friday, the government is sticking to the UPC. Federal justice minister Christine Lambrecht made the announcement today.

Lambrecht says, “I will continue my efforts to ensure that we can provide European innovative industry with a unitary European patent with a European Patent Court. The Federal Government will carefully evaluate the decision of the Federal Constitutional Court and examine possibilities to remedy the identified lack of form before the end of this legislative period.”

The Bundestag will therefore vote again during this legislative period. Germany will elect a new parliament in October 2021.

20.03.20

German Constitutional Court upholds UPC complaint

In a huge blow to the patent community, the German Federal Constitutional Court has upheld the constitutional complaint filed against the German UPC legislation. The court ruled that the Act of Approval to the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court needed a two-thirds majority by the Bundestag since it would have entailed an amendment of the Constitution in substantive terms.

It is now unclear if the decision will be the end of the patent court. The Bundestag can now save the situation by voting on the Act again with a two-thirds majority. However, this could significantly delay the UPC process. Organising a quorum and a two-third majority in the context of Coronavirus will be a major challenge.

18.03.20

German Constitutional Court to rule on UPC complaint

Today, the German Constitutional Court has announced on its website that a judgment in the complaint filed by Ingve Stjerna can be expected on Friday 20 March. There will be no further oral hearing. The European patent community now waits to see whether the UPC will finally be given the green light.

28.02.20

Dismay as UK government rejects participation

The UK government has confirmed that it will no longer participate in the Unified Patent Court system. The government declared it will seek to rescind its ratification. A press office for the Cabinet Office confirmed to JUVE Patent, “I can confirm that the UK will not be seeking involvement in the UP/UPC system. Participating in a court that applies EU law and bound by the CJEU is inconsistent with our aims of becoming an independent self-governing nation.”

The announcement has surprised many in the European patent community who, despite Brexit, had expected the UK to hold to its ratification. Boris Johnson himself, as foreign secretary under former prime minster Theresa May, ratified the UPC agreement in 2017.

There are now many unanswered questions about how the UPC project will develop. The first hurdle is the impending decision of the German Constitutional Court, due next month.

21.11.19

Constitutional court may rule in early 2020

Yesterday Peter Huber, judge rapporteur in the complaint against the German UPC legislation, indicated there will be a judgment in early 2020. In an interview with Managing IP, Huber stated that it was his “intention to issue a decision on the complaint made against the legislation enabling Germany to ratify the UPC Agreement early next year”.

Nevertheless, whether a decision will actually be reached in the first quarter of next year is unclear. The decision is not only up to Huber, but also his colleagues from the court’s 2nd Senate. A court spokesman stated, “Professor Huber did not comment on the substance [of the complaint]. With regard to the timetable, he did indeed say that a decision will be sought in the first quarter of 2020, but that the specific timing will of course also depend on how the consultation goes.”

Furthermore, it is still uncertain whether the court will decide in time for the UK to participate.

5.06.19

Recruitment for UPC judges raises new speculation

Three years after the last campaign, the UPC Preparatory Committee has announced it is re-opening its judicial recruitment process and accepting new applications. The new campaign will be a ‘top-up’ exercise to complement the major UPC judicial recruitment campaign held in 2016. It covers both legal and technical judicial positions.

The news has ignited rumours in the patent community that a ruling in the constitutional complaint is imminent. However, a spokesperson for the German Constitutional Court called these unfounded.

10.11.17

Constitutional judges extend deadline for submitting opinions

In October, the constitutional judges extended the deadline for participating institutions to provide an opinion to 31 December 2017. There is speculation that the Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection asked for more time. However, three other institutions have also been given the opportunity to provide an opinion: the German Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (GRUR), the European Patent Litigators Association (EPLIT) and the Federation of German Industries (BDI). This increases the number of opinions the Karlsruhe court expects to receive by the end of the year to 27.

Furthermore, lawyer advocacy groups, the German government and the European Patent Office are all compiling opinions. Experts believe that the local governments in each of the four German states that are set to host a UPC local division will also submit an opinion.

When Düsseldorf lawyer Ingve Stjerna filed his constitutional complaint back in spring, the patent community was hoping for a quick ruling. The norm for the court is four to six months. However, with the new extension and sheer amount of paperwork involved, a ruling before 2020 is looking increasingly unlikely.

25.07.17

Constitutional complaint brings UPC ratification to a standstill

A complaint at the Constitutional Court has brought the ratification process in Germany – and with it the UPC – to a screeching halt. On 31st March, a private person filed a constitutional complaint against the national implementation law and even the UPC Agreement itself (ref. 2 BvR 739/17). The latter had only just been passed by the German parliament.

In addition, the complainant has applied for a temporary injunction. As a result, on 12 June,  president Frank-Walter Steinmeier halted the ratification process.

How quickly Karlsruhe will rule on the complaint is unclear. Although a spokesperson for the court conceded there is a particular sense of urgency, she also insisted the matter is highly complex. Experts estimate Karlsruhe could rule on the urgent motion in four to six months. Technically, this would mean the UPC could still launch in early 2018.