International law firm Bird & Bird has today launched its new book, A Guide to the UPC & the UP, following the opening of the new Court system on June 1, 2023.
The unitary patent package is arguably the most significant development in patent law internationally in the last 50 years. In publishing the Guide, the firm’s contributors examine how the new Unified Patent Court (UPC) is likely to operate in practice and guide the reader through the important steps in the process of obtaining a Unitary patent and the procedure for litigating European and Unitary patents before the Court.
The UPC is an entirely new, truly multinational, Court. It will have jurisdiction over disputes concerning most European patents in (to start with) 17 EU Member States, as well as over Unitary patents which will be granted as of June 1, 2023.
The UPC is also significant from the perspective of European Union law more generally as it is the first time that EU Member States have ceded national jurisdiction over European patents in relation to issues of infringement and validity. Further, it is the first time in the EU that a new multinational, and in a sense truly Federal, court has been established to deal with European patents having unitary effect.
Partner Matthias Meyer (IP - Düsseldorf), who contributed to the book, says: “After a number of years in the making and in parallel to the UPC system being established, this Guide aims to assist people and businesses navigate the practice and procedure of the UPC.”
Editor Katharine Stephens (Partner, IP - London) adds that: “The Guide has been very much a collective effort and on the part of numerous current and ex-colleagues and would not have been possible without their support and enthusiasm. As we discover more about how the UPC actually works in practice, the Guide will be updated to reflect our ongoing learnings.”
A Guide to the UPC & the UP is available to download from our website here.
