US patentees have many questions regarding the new Unitary Patent system in Europe. Gwilym Roberts of Kilburn & Strode in the UK offers this brief post on practical issues to and immediate action items. - DC
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There has been a lot of talk about the new Unitary Patent system in Europe. As there are so many unknowns at the moment, it is sometimes difficult to work out what the practical implications now are. This brief post highlights the main points.
Overview
The proposed Unitary Patent system has two main components:
Firstly, for patents issued by the EPO, patentees will be able to choose between a) the existing system of multiple national validations from a European Patent, wherein separate renewal fees are paid for each national validation nationally or b) designating the Unitary Patent covering multiple EU countries, wherein a single renewal fee will be payable to the EPO and a single translation required.
Secondly, and separately, a Unified Patent Court will be established, alongside existing national courts, allowing a single action to cover multiple jurisdictions providing wider injunctive and damages type relief than the current fragmented system.
Things you need to understand now
1. The system isn't here yet. The most optimistic predictions are for early 2015.
2. Any European patent or application (whether or not it designates a "Unitary Patent") will then be under Unified Patent Court jurisdiction by default. Although details are not known yet, it will however be possible to opt patents back out for at least seven years from entry into force of the new system. This may well be attractive, given that it will then be possible to opt back in. Fees to opt out and to opt back in will be applicable but are not yet known.
There is one key thing that not everyone is understanding: if you designate a Unitary Patent then you are tying yourself into the Unified Patent Court system, but possibly making a saving on translation and renewals. However, the Court will have jurisdiction over both types of patents that are issued by the EPO. Even if you do not designate a Unitary Patent, the Unified Patent Court will still apply to your patent unless you opt out.
Action now: Monitor for further details of the opt out process and consider opting -out.
3. As the Unified Patent Court system will apply to all European patents and applications, whether or not a Unitary Patent has been designated, then there is an opportunity to target competitor patents in Europe for multi jurisdiction revocation in a single action, even if the 9 month post grant opposition period has expired. However, you will need to do this before the patentee opts out and there may therefore be a race on day one.
Action now: Monitor updates on how opt out timing will work, if you see revocation opportunities.
4. A lot of the uncertainty arises because we don't know how good the Unified Patent Court itself will be. But given that the judges are likely to be the same people who are already operating in Europe - and some of these judges are fantastic – let's assume that the courts are going to work. That makes the question much simpler – do I want to enforce a patent in multiple jurisdictions in a single action, balanced against the risk of central revocation?
Action now: Start thinking about the tactical pros and cons of multi jurisdiction enforcement and revocation – assume the courts will be good!
5. If you like the idea of the Unified Patent Court and wish to obtain coverage for multiple EU countries, then the Unitary Patent designation may be attractive to you. You cannot request it now, but it will be available for European patents that are granted after the new system enters into force. Given the backlog in prosecution at the EPO at the moment, you may well have applications which are pending now which could grant after the new system comes into force.
Action now: Consider whether it is worth delaying any key patent applications, if you definitely want Unitary Patent protection.
Conclusion
There has been nothing here about costs, languages, translations, procedure etc. – these are important details, but shouldn't affect your basic decisions. There is not a lot to do now; consider delaying, keep watching and start thinking.
