The present system of European (EP) patents granted by the European Patent Office, has the drawback that the same patent, validated in several states, may lead to several parallel disputes in these jurisdictions.
The Unified Patent package creates a unitary effect for European patents encompassing the states that have ratified the Unified Patent Court Agreement (UPCA – to be found here). That is to say, an EP patent with unitary effect will have the same effects in all the states that ratified the UPCA and where said patent has been validated.
The present system of European (EP) patents granted by the European Patent Office, has the drawback that the same patent, validated in several states, may lead to several parallel disputes in these jurisdictions.
The Unified Patent package creates a unitary effect for European patents all over the states that have ratified the Unified Patent Court Agreement (UPCA – to be found here). That is to say, the same EP patent will have the same effects in all the states that ratified the UPCA and where said patent has been validated.
It also creates a single court (the Unified Patent Court – UPC) having jurisdiction for such European patents with unitary effect.
UPC preparatory committee interpretative note on the applicability of the UPC Agreement to opted-out European patents
Interpretative note – Consequences of the application of Article 83 UPCA
What is the impact of opting out (or bringing a case to a national court during the transitional period) under Article 83 of the Unified Patent Court Agreement (UPCA) on the applicable law for European patents without unitary effect ?
National courts should apply the national law and not the UPCA, says the Preparatory Committee.