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.