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It’s very nearly Christmas but just before we all go off to stuff ourselves with turkey and overdo it slightly on the eggnog, here’s a quick update on some unitary patent news including a possible venue for the UPC in the UK.
AG’s Opinion on the Spanish Challenges to the Unitary Patent
As of the time of writing the two opinions (C-146/13, C-147/13) are still not available in English. Given the proportion of EP patents that are filed in English this lack of a translation seems a little odd. It’s certainly frustrating, especially given the comments at the recent ERA conference from Manuel Desantes who suggested that the opinion had a number of inconsistencies. If anyone knows when the English version of the opinions is likely to surface then please let us know.
UPC IT tender
The UK Intellectual Property Office has now published a tender notice for the IT system for the unified patent court. The UKIPO’s tendering portal has all the information for those interested. The requirements for the UPC are divided into three lots (Lot 1 – Provision of an efiling/Case Management System; Lot 2 – Hosting Services; Lot 3 – Website Development) and the estimated contract start date is 1 June 2015 for an initial period of two years.
Rules of Procedure of the Select Committee of the Administrative Council of the EPO
The select committee has published a further consolidated version of the draft Rules relating to Unitary Patent Protection. The interesting bit, i.e. the renewal fee levels, is still subject to discussion as is the distribution of renewal fees between participating member states. The consolidated rules can be found here and the Communiqué relating to the October 2014 meeting of the Select Committee can be found here.
Possible Location of the UPC
The 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square IP Tech blog carried news last week that a venue for the London section of the central division of the UPC was recently visited by a number of IP lawyers and patent attorneys.
The possible location is opposite London City airport at 1000 Dockland Road, Royal Albert Dock. The estate agent’s particulars can be found here. The location is just down the road from the ExCeL centre and will be near the Customs House Crossrail station (approx. 1 mile away) when it opens in 2019. A note from Henry Carr QC Chair of the Intellectual Property Bar Association about the Royal Albert Docks property can be found on the 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square blog.
Mark Richardson 23 December 2014
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