![\"UPC](\"https:\/\/www.epo.org\/news-events\/news\/2022\/20221125\/antonio-campinos.jpg?lenya.module=svg&height=300&width=560\" "\\"Raising")
Photo by Johan Li\u00e9nard <\/i>\n<\/p>\n
\n
Photo by Johan Li\u00e9nard <\/i>\n<\/p>\n
\nHow will the
\nUnitary Patent system simplify and improve the European patent system for the
\nbenefit of its users? This was the focal point of the high level-conference
\nthat took place in Brussels and was jointly organised by Belgium’s Federal
\nPublic Service Economy, the European Patent Office (EPO) and the European
\nCommission. Moderated by IP journalist James Nurton, the event was attended by
\nmore than 1\u00a0000 participants, of whom 250 joined in person at the Concert
\nNoble while the others followed the conference remotely. A further 3000 viewers
\nfollowed the conference via the social media channels of the EPO, the Belgian
\nMinistry of the Economy and the European Commission.\n<\/p>\n
\nIn his opening speech,
\nEPO President Ant\u00f3nio Campinos emphasised the importance of the new system for fostering
\ninventive activity in Europe. He described the Unitary Patent and Unified
\nPatent Court (UPC) as „the most fundamental change in our patent system since
\nthe signing of the European Patent Convention in 1973.“ Highlighting the need
\nfor a „diverse, inclusive and innovation-led economy for preserving a
\nsustainable future,“ Campinos emphasised the crucial role to be played by
\na robust, high-quality patent system.\n<\/p>\n
\nCiting the
\nbenefits of the new system as increased cost-effectiveness, easier post-grant
\nadministration of patents and streamlined judicial enforcement through the UPC,
\nCampinos predicted that, „big savings in cash and paperwork, and enhanced legal
\ncertainty“ would lead to „higher quality in the patent system.“\n<\/p>\n
\nIn her address,
\nthe German MEP Angelika Niebler considered the active role of the European Parliament:
\n„We fought for so many years to introduce the Unitary Patent system in Europe.“
\nReferring to the UPC she said: „We needed both pillars – the patent and the
\ncourt – to build a trustworthy environment for the new system […] Making Europe
\nmore resilient with the Unitary Patent is really important for Europe to also
\nbe more competitive on the global stage.“\n<\/p>\n
\nAnna-Carin
\nSvensson, Director-General for International Affairs at Sweden’s Ministry of
\nJustice, reinforced the sense of resilience embodied by the Unitary Patent
\nsystem itself, which is expected to enter into operation under Sweden’s Presidency
\nof the Council of the European Union: „I am convinced that the worries we had
\nto go through will make the Unitary Patent system even stronger“, she said. \u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\nFormer European
\nCommissioner for Research, Science and Innovation Philippe Busquin and Cecilia
\nWickstr\u00f6m, who served as an MEP from 2009 to 2019, both paid tribute to the Unitary
\nPatent system as a major milestone in European co-operation. EPO Chief
\nEconomist Yann M\u00e9ni\u00e8re provided an overview of the system’s economic benefits, especially
\nfor smaller entities and start-ups.\n<\/p>\n
\nOf special interest
\nto the public, however, were the five moderated expert panels that explored the
\nnew system from the point of view of academia, business associations,
\ninnovative SMEs, the IP profession and the judiciary. The closing panel in
\nparticular generated a spate of questions from the floor for the speakers, who
\nwere appearing for the first time in public since their recent appointment to
\nthe UPC.\n<\/p>\n
\nThey included the
\nPresident of the Court of First Instance of the UPC, Florence Butin, and of the
\nAppeals Court, Klaus Grabinski, as well as three further UPC judges. The panel offered
\nmuch-anticipated strategic insight into the structure and workings of the first
\never court dedicated to the Europe-wide litigation of patents – an institution
\nthat many believe might also become the future global centre of gravity in the
\nfield.\n<\/p>\n
\nThis sentiment was
\nechoed in the closing words of Winfried Tilmann, Professor Emeritus at
\nHeidelberg University, who stated that Europe was „contributing to opening up
\nto a world system: first by opening up the granting, and now the litigation of
\npatents.“<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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