Rules relating to Unitary Patent Protection

as adopted by decision of the Select Committee of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation of 15 December 2015 and as last amended by decision of the Select Committee of the Administrative Council of 13 November 2024on 9 October 2025

Rules relating to Regulation (EU) No 1257/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2012 implementing enhanced cooperation in the area of the creation of unitary patent protection and to Council Regulation (EU) No 1260/2012 of 17 December 2012 implementing enhanced cooperation in the area of the creation of unitary patent protection with regard to the applicable translation arrangements¹

(hereinafter "Rules relating to Unitary Patent Protection")

Any references to persons made in the Rules relating to Unitary Patent Protection are to be understood as being gender-neutral.²

Table of Contents

PART I – INSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONSRule 1 – Rule 4

CHAPTER ISUBJECT MATTERRule 1 – Rule 1

Rule 1Subject matter

CHAPTER IISELECT COMMITTEE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCILRule 2 – Rule 2

Rule 2Competences and duties

CHAPTER IIIFUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE AND SPECIAL DEPARTMENTS OF THE EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICERule 3 – Rule 4

Rule 3Functions and powers of the President of the European Patent Office

Rule 4Unitary Patent Protection Division

PART II – PROCEDURES TO BE CARRIED BY THE EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE UNDER REGULATIONS (EU) NO 1257/2012 AND NO 1260/2012Rule 5 – Rule 14

CHAPTER ITHE REQUEST FOR UNITARY EFFECTRule 5 – Rule 7

Rule 5General

Rule 6Requirements of the request for unitary effect

Rule 7Examination of the request by the European Patent Office

CHAPTER IICOMPENSATION SCHEMERule 8 – Rule 11

Rule 8Definition and beneficiaries

Rule 9Request for compensation

Rule 10Examination of the request and grant of compensation

Rule 11Level of compensation

CHAPTER IIILICENCES OF RIGHTRule 12 – Rule 12

Rule 12Filing of the statement by the patent proprietor

CHAPTER IVRENEWAL FEESRule 13 – Rule 13

Rule 13Payment of renewal fees for European patents with unitary effect

CHAPTER VLAPSERule 14 – Rule 14

Rule 14Lapse

PART III – INFORMATION TO THE PUBLICRule 15 – Rule 19

CHAPTER IREGISTER FOR UNITARY PATENT PROTECTIONRule 15 – Rule 16

Rule 15Establishment of the Register for unitary patent protection

Rule 16Entries in the Register for unitary patent protection

CHAPTER IIPUBLICATIONSRule 17 – Rule 19

Rule 17European Patent Bulletin and Official Journal of the European Patent Office

Rule 18Publication of translations

Rule 19Inclusion of decisions of the Unified Patent Court in the files

PART IV – COMMON PROVISIONSRule 20 – Rule 24

Rule 20Common provisions governing procedure

Rule 21Oral proceedings

Rule 22Re-establishment of rights

Rule 23Form of decisions

Rule 24Interlocutory revision