Europe
Are you ready for the Unitary Patent?
By Louise Jonshammar, Niklas Mattsson | Posted on May 19, 2022
The Unitary Patent and the Unified Patent Court will significantly impact the patent system in Europe. For applicants or owners of European patents, it is time to inventory your IP portfolio and strategise whether your patents are more suited to the classic European system or the upcoming Unitary Patent system. Niklas Mattsson and Louise Jonshammar...
All eyes on Germany as UPC is resuscitated at Bundestag and Bundesrat
By Louise Jonshammar | Posted on December 18, 2020
German ratification of the UPCA is one of the last hurdles for the Unitary Patent system. The system has suffered a series of delays ever since an agreement was reached in 2012 that made the Unitary Patent possible through enhanced cooperation at an EU-level. The Unitary Patent system aims to provide easier and affordable access...
Tags: Bundesrat, EU, Europe, European patents, Germany, patents, unitary patent, UPC, UPCA
Brands must take extra caution against counterfeits during Covid-19 pandemic
By Mette Parlev | Posted on June 5, 2020
Enhanced online brand protection and anti-counterfeiting measures are needed due to the current pandemic: as demand from e-commerce consumers increases, so does the market for counterfeits. Background A recent report from EUROPOL, the European Union’s law enforcement agency, provides an overview of how criminals are adapting to profit from the covid-19 pandemic. Findings include that...
Tags: anti-counterfeiting, Coronavirus, COVID-19, enforcement, EU, Europe, trademarks
German Court finds Unified Patent Court legislation unconstitutional
By Niklas Mattsson | Posted on March 20, 2020
Today, the court tasked with upholding Germany’s constitution, the Bundesverfassungsgericht, has issued its long-awaited decision on a complaint against ratifying the Unified Patent Court Agreement (UPCA). The Court’s decision upholds the complaint, finding that the German legislative act that ratifies the UPCA does indeed contravene the German constitution. The German Federal President is now prohibited...
UK is out of the Unified Patent Court
By Niklas Mattsson | Posted on March 2, 2020
The United Kingdom’s government has confirmed to industry publication IAM-Media that the country will not be a member of the Unified Patent Court system. A spokesperson for the government stated: “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...
Bracing ourselves for a “no Brexit deal”?
By AWA | Posted on October 19, 2018
The point of no return, the date of jumping off the cliff, the end of the conveyor belt, or as we say in Swedish “a dear child has many names” – 29 March 2019 is now very quickly approaching. On 17 October, the EU27 leaders met at the European Council to discuss Brexit, and even...
Tags: 29 March 2019, Brexit, Britain, EU27, Europe, European Union, Intellectual Property, patents, RCD
A closer look at the countries that have ratified the UPC
By AWA | Posted on May 4, 2018
Considering that the UK now has ratified the UPC agreement, the entry into force of the system seems imminent although the German Federal Constitutional court still have to settle the complaint filed during 2017. If the complaint is dismissed, we will probably see the UPC opening up in 2018. Out of the 25 EU member that...
The UPCA Opt-in/Pin-out scenario
By Michael Bech Sommer | Posted on December 16, 2014
The Unified Patent court agreement (UPCA) has been ratified in 2014 by both Denmark and Sweden, so even if the actual advent of the unitary patent and UPC is still some way off, potential patent rights holders in the two countries should already now prepare for the new regime. The coming into force of the...
Tags: Europe, European patent, unified patent court, unitary patent
European patent validation in Morocco and Tunisia
By Troels Peter Rørdam | Posted on October 31, 2014
Recently, the EPO has initiated work on a new interesting possibility for European patent applicants. Namely, the EPO has reported having signed an agreement with the Tunisian government on the validation of European patents for Tunisia. A similar agreement has previously, in 2013, been signed with the Moroccan government. According to the agreements, European patents...
Wider scope of protection for Swedish patents?
By AWA | Posted on November 20, 2013
Last week the Swedish government referred an amendment of the Swedish patent law to the Council on Legislation for reconsideration. According to the suggested amendment, patent applications filed in English need not be translated into Swedish. Instead, they can be granted in English. For applicants filing a Swedish patent application in English and wishing to...
Tags: EPO, Europe, patent application, sweden
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