Category : Unitary Patent

New Ratification of The UPCA by The Bundestag – What Is Next ?

Unified Patent Court (UPC) Unitary Patent - Nov 30,2020 - No Comment

The German National Assembly (Bundestag) has now adopted the law for ratifying the Unified Patent Court Agreement (UPCA) with the required majority. As a next step, the Bundesrat, the second chamber, has to approve the law. As the Bundesrat did not have any objections previously, it is likely that the law will pass with the required majority. The next session of the Bundesrat is planned for 18 December 2020, however the schedule of the session is not yet fixed. After the vote of the Bundesrat, the government and the president have formally to sign the law.

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The United Kingdom (UK) has now officially withdrawn from the Unified Patent Court Agreement (UPCA)

Unified Patent Court (UPC) Unitary Patent - Jul 20,2020 - No Comment

The UK has today notified the council secretariat about their withdrawal of their ratification of the UPCA and the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities of the Unified Patent Court. The UK considers that the withdrawal shall take effect immediately.

The UK has already announced earlier this year that they do not longer wish to be a party to the UPCA. However, until now, it was not clear when the UK will proceed with the withdrawal.

The Preparatory Committee of the UPC will now discuss the consequences of the UK withdrawal and will see how to move forward. It will then publish a further announcement.

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German Federal Constitutional Court upholds the constitutional complaint regarding the UPC for lack of qualified majority vote: is there still a chance for the UPC?

Unified Patent Court (UPC) Unitary Patent - Mar 20,2020 - No Comment

In its order released on 20 March 2020, the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) holds the act of approval to the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (“UPC”) void due in particular to the lack of a qualified majority vote. While this decision delays the ratification of the UPC Agreement by Germany even further, the future of the UPC seems more than ever uncertain. However, in upholding the constitutional complaint on this ground, a future ratification of the UPC Agreement by Germany still remains possible.

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Order N°2018-341 of May 9th, 2018, Regarding Unitary European Patents and The Unified Patent Court

Unified Patent Court (UPC) Unitary Patent - May 16,2018 - No Comment

After the ratification of the Unified Patent Court Agreement (UPCA) by the United Kingdom on April 26th, France has just adopted new Order n°2018-341 of May 9th, 2018, regarding Unitary Patents and the Unified Patent Court (the “Order”).

While this new law intends to amend the French Intellectual Property Code in view of the upcoming changes with Unitary Patents (“UP”) and the Unified Patent Court (“UPC”), it is supposed to have a wider impact on patent law in France.

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The UK ratified the Unified Patent Court Agreement on 26th April 2018

Unified Patent Court (UPC) Unitary Patent - Apr 27,2018 - No Comment

The UK ratified the Unified Patent Court Agreement (UPCA) on 26th April 2018 despite the Brexit vote and the currently ongoing negotiations for the UK to leave the UE.

Only the German ratification is now missing for the system to go alive, as France has already ratified the UPCA. However, Germany’s ratification has been further delayed since the constitutional complaint against the ratification of the UPCA (End of March 2017). If the German Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) decides not to admit the complaint, the German ratification procedure can resume (within approx. 6 months), still possibly before Brexit day (29th March 2019). If the FCC admits the complaint Decision, the decision will not be expected before end 2019 (may be even much later if the FCC refers the matter to the European Court of Justice), and the UK will have left the EU by that time.

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