The European Parliament approved EU unitary patent rules
11.12.2012
The "EU patent package" comprising the unitary patent, the language regime and the unified patent court was approved in three separate votin sessions.
The international agreement creating a unified patent court will enter into force on 1 January 2014 or after thirteen contracting states ratify it, provided that the UK, France and Germany are among them.
The other two acts (unitary patent and language regime) would apply from 1 January 2014, or from the date when the international agreement enters into force, whichever one is the latest.
Spain and Italy are currently outside the new regime, but could decide to join in at any time.
More information on the <link http: www.europarl.europa.eu news en pressroom content html parliament-approves-eu-unitary-patent-rules external-link-new-window parliament>Parliament site.
