Keynote address by President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy on the occasion of the 40 years anniversary of the European Patent Convention.
"For companies, what improvements will the Unitary Patent and the Unified Patent Court bring?
- Automatic coverage in 25 EU member states;
- no longer having to deal with different procedures and formalities and not longer having to provide translations in the local language in each individual countries;
- no longer having to litigate in different national courts.
In short, a real "one stop-shop", that takes care not only of requests (like with EPO patents already today), but also of deliveries (with a single validation) and after sales (with a centralised court). Meaning less time, less money, less worry – and larger markets. Which makes so much sense. […]
Of course, I call upon all the governments involved to ratify the agreement as soon as can be. But beyond the ratifications, it is also about making all the practical arrangements to get it up and going. We need a quality system that inspires trust. A simple system that is straightforward and swift. On this, we simply cannot disappoint.
We'll also have to keep a close eye on the price tag. Affordability of course is going to be key. So even on issues like renewal fees, we need workable solutions. Solutions that allow the new Unitary Patent to best service its public and European innovators at large. Because the real test of success will be in its adoption by those that it is precisely designed to help: Europe's innovative brains."
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