Proprietors of a Unitary Patent may file a statement with the EPO to the effect that they are prepared to allow any person to use their invention as a licensee in return for appropriate consideration (Art. 8(1) Regulation (EU) No 1257/2012 andRule 12(1) UPR). A licence obtained under the system of licences of right will be treated as a contractual licence (Art. 8(2) Regulation (EU) No 1257/2012). This statement can be filed using EPO Form 7001 or as a free‑text letter. No administrative fee is due and the statement will be entered in the Register for unitary patent protection UP Register free of charge.
A statement cannot be registered as long as an exclusive licence is recorded in the Register for unitary patent protection UP Register or a request for recording of such a licence is pending with the UPP Division (Rule 12(3) UPR).
Renewal fees for a Unitary Patent which fall due after receipt of a statement under Rule 12(1) UPR will be reduced by 15% (Art. 3 RFeesUPP). Any additional fee for belated payment of a renewal fee (Rule 13(3) UPR and Art. 2(1), item 2, RFeesUPP) will be calculated on the basis of the reduced renewal fee.