Webinar: An Introduction to the Unitary Patent Court and Unitary Patents

The Unified Patent Court (UPC) came into being on June 1, 2023, with the court empowered to decide the infringement and validity of both Unitary Patents and classic European Patents. Although not all countries in the European Union have adopted the unitary patent and UPC, there are currently eighteen (18) EU Member States that have entered into the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (UPCA), with more expected to join over time. To date, those patent owners who have participated in proceedings before the UPC report a fairer and more even-handed experience than currently available in the United States.

Join us on Tuesday, February 18, at 12 PM ET, for a webinar conversation about the UPC and the unitary patent. Moderated by Gene Quinn, the founder of IPWatchdog.com and a leading commentator on patents and patent policy, panelists will include John White, a patent attorney and Counsel at Harness IP,  Michael Thomas, Partner at Harness IP, and Peter Thorniley, a patent attorney and Partner in the Electronics, Software and Communications team at Venner Shipley.

In a wide-ranging conversation, the panel will begin by introducing the underlying principles of the UPC and unitary patents and why they matter to U.S. innovators. The panel will specifically cover geographical scope, opting in and out, the relationship with EPO and national court proceedings, usage timelines, languages, availability of injunctions, and current trends. The discussion will then proceed to explore more nuanced topics, including what the UPC and unitary patent mean for contributory infringement in Europe, the putative doctrine of equivalents, and so-called “long-arm” jurisdiction.