Unitary Patent & Unified Patent Court

 

A better patent system for Europe

The Unitary Patent and the Unified Patent Court are the building blocks which supplement and strengthen the existing centralised European patent granting system. They offer users a cost-effective option for patent protection and dispute settlement across Europe.

Unitary Patent

Unitary Patents make it possible to get patent protection in up to 17 EU Member States by submitting a single request to the EPO, making the procedure simpler and more cost effective for applicants.

Unified Patent Court

The Unified Patent Court (UPC) is an international court set up by participating EU Member States to deal with the infringement and validity of both Unitary Patents and European patents, putting an end to costly parallel litigation and enhancing legal certainty.

Learn more about the UPC FAQ
 

Unitary Patent dashboard

This overview of requests for unitary effect and registrations of Unitary Patents is updated daily. Our interactive display (in English only) breaks down requests by technology, language and proprietors' profile.

Unitary Patent dashboard
 

When did it start?

The new system started on 1 June 2023.

Learn more about the start date
 

Events & training

Register for forthcoming seminars and courses

Training European Patent Litigation Certificate

See also

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Animated map of the EPO members

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