Here’s another brief update on all things Unitary patent/UPC.
UK UPC Taskforce
The UK’s UPC Taskforce issued another status update last week. The next Preparatory Committee meeting is scheduled for 19 October.
The Expert Panel of the Preparatory Committee have had a presentation on the IT system and there has also been discussion of the feedback from the court fee consultation. It is also noted that a Code of Conduct is being developed for representatives and proposals for this are being developed with representatives from EPLAW, EPLIT and epi.
An IT roadshow was hosted on 9 September by Allen & Overy to provide a workshop and demo of the Case Management system. The roadshow included a demo of the opt-out and withdrawal opt-out forms. A roadmap of features of the system along with the forms that are being produced will be issued in the near future. Anyone wanting more information about the IT side of things can sign up for the UPC e-filing/case management mailing list by following this link.
To celebrate signing the lease for space in Aldgate Tower to host the UPC in London, Minister Baroness Neville-Rolfe, hosted a small reception at Aldgate Tower. During the reception an invited audience of key stakeholders (IPcopy’s invite was lost in the post apparently) had the chance to see inside the building that will become the UPC in London and review early draft designs for the space.
Discussions on the Protocol for Provisional Application have been concluded and preparations are now underway for formal signing in early October.
The next meeting of the EPO select committee for the Unitary Patent has been postponed until 13 and 14 October. Italy may therefore be able to take part as a full member of these meetings should their request to join the UP system be processed in time.
Round the Web
Ratification of the UPC Agreement in Finland is progressing with the Government recently issuing a draft Government Proposal which covers actions that Finland will need to take to implement the UPC. Full story here.
Is the will to implement the UPC in Slovakia and the Czech Republic waning? See here.
Mark Richardson 22 September 2015