Our patent specialists cover the full range of technologies with particular expertise in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, semiconductors, mobile telephony, electrical engineering and computer-implemented inventions.

We have acted in leading patent infringement cases, which have shaped the law. We have helped leading technology companies manage and enforce their patent rights in the EU. With specialists in the strategically important jurisdictions of the UK and Germany, we are on the spot in the cities where patent disputes are most likely to be fought. In all cases, we draw upon the technical and legal knowledge our lawyers have built up in this specialist area.

We also advise on the registrability of inventions in Europe, including appropriate and cost effective strategies in the European Patent Office. We can also assist if you wish to licence, acquire or dispose of patent rights, and assess a market opportunity. We have particular experience of FRAND licensing issues relating to standard essential patents.

Unitary Patents and the Unified Patent Court

After years of planning, the Unitary Patent (UP) and the Unified Patent Court (UPC) will soon be introduced in Europe in early 2023. A UP will provide a single patent right covering all EU Member States that have ratified the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court.

Unitary Patents and the Unified Patent Court

The UPC will have exclusive jurisdiction over UPs. During the transitional period, EPs that are not opted-out of the UP system will be under the dual jurisdiction of the UPC and national courts. This means that the UPC will be able to hear post-grant litigation with respect to the patents in its jurisdiction and its decisions and remedies will have effect in all participating Member States, opening up the possibility of pan-EU injunctions and central revocation. 

The new UP system will entail substantial changes to the system of granting and litigating patents in Europe and users of the European patent system should be prepared. In the below interactive PDF, Osborne Clarke's patent team gives an introduction to the basics of the UPC, looking at the structure and locations of the UPC, its geographical reach, the timeline to its launch, as well as setting out some useful links to help you prepare for the new system coming into force.
 

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