Unified Patent Court and Unitary Patents

The Unified Patent Court is now scheduled to open on 1 April 2023. At the same time the European patent office is set to begin granting Unitary Patents providing patent protection in the participating member states. Unless action is taken, the opening of the new Court will mean that existing European patents in force in UPC member states will become liable for revocation in a single court action before this new Court. If you do not want your European patent to be at risk of a central attack in the UPC, you must take proactive steps to opt your European patent out of the jurisdiction of the Court. This presentation will address the threats and opportunities arising from the opening of the new court and the introduction of the new unitary patent.

Discussion points

• Overview of the Unified Patent Court package and its strategic implications
• Structure of the Court
• Rules of Procedure & Litigation timelines before the Court
• Opting out patents from the jurisdiction of the court
• The costs and benefits of unitary patents.

Speakers:
Dr. Antje Brambrink
Nicholas Fox
Yanfei Ru 
Ningling Wang