Paris, 21 August 2017 – The European Patent Office (EPO) has published the 1st edition of the “Unitary Patent Guide.” This guide outlines the texts concerning applications for European patents with unitary effect, annual fees, entries in the Register for Unitary Patent Protection, languages and remedies in the event that the unitary effect is rejected. It also details the practical means by which these procedures will be handled by the EPO on the basis of the rules relating to Unitary Patent Protection (UPR).
Parmi ces modalités, nous avons particulièrement noté que l’OEB invitera le titulaire du brevet à prendre position au moins une fois avant de rejeter sa demande d’effet unitaire lorsqu’elle n’a pas été présentée dans le délai d’un mois prévu à la Règle 6(1) RPU (à compter de la publication de la mention de la délivrance), et ce en vertu de l’Article 113(1) CBE (droit d’être entendu) applicable en vertu de la règle 20(1) RPU.
Amongst these means, is it of particular interest to note that the EPO will invite the patent holder to comment at least once before rejecting their request for unitary effect when it has not been submitted within the one-month time limit provided in Rule 6(1) UPR (from the publication of the mention of the grant), and under Article 113(1) EPC (right to be heard) pursuant to Rule 20(1) UPR.
Last January, REGIMBEAU published the book “Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court – Europe Adopts New Tools to Promote Innovation”.
This book examines the various legal rules which will govern future Unitary Patents and the Unified Patent Court.
It is available in French and English.
REGIMBEAU has also developed SIM’UP, an online scenario simulation tool to aid with decision making, allowing businesses to perform budget simulations and compare the post grant costs of your European Patents, with or without unitary effect.
This tool is accessible free of charge to the address www.unitary-patent-costs.eu or by scanning the QR Code
