< Back to latest news & events

UPC

UPC aims to be operational by December 2017

January 2017

The UKIPO UPC Taskforce and the UPC Preparatory Committee have today confirmed that Provisional Application Phase (PAP) for the UPC will start at the end of spring 2017 (May 2017).

This means they expect the UPC to become operational by December 2017.

The start of the sunrise-period for the possibility to opt out European patents is now planned for early September 2017 which will provide a minimum of 3 months for patent holders who wish to opt out their patents to do so before the Court becomes operational.

Judicial recruitment can also get underway under the PAP.

The announcement went on to say that:

“The above timetable is conditional and provided with the clear disclaimer that there are a number of factors that will dictate whether it is achievable. The most important factors in meeting these dates is the necessary ratifications of the UPCA and accession to the Protocol on Provisional Application. If these are not achieved the time-plan will be disrupted.

There will be a final Preparatory Committee meeting in early March 2017, and in due course, updates and more specific details of the Committee’s work programme will be published on this website. Those who have applied for judicial appointments will be contacted separately.”

Latest updates

Milan confirmed as third seat of Central Division

The Italian Foreign Office has published a press release announcing an agreement with France and Germany to set up a branch of the Central Division in Milan.  This agreement will …

Read article

Fashionably IP Podcast Series 3 – exploring hot topics in the world of fashion and intellectual property

We are delighted to launch series 3 of our Fashionably IP Podcast where we will be looking at important hot topics in the world of fashion and intellectual property. In …

Read article

Why should I register the Trade Mark(s) of my business? – 6 Top Tips

A trade mark is anything that identifies the origin of goods or services writes Rebecca Field, Partner & Trade Mark Attorney (pictured above). This includes the name of the product, …

Read article

Alright Cuthbert

The caterpillar war may have been settled last year, but it hasn’t stopped Aldi continuing to dig at M&S. There was the limited edition Cuthbert being sold to raise money …

Read article

Applications to opt-out pass the 100,000 mark

There is now less than three weeks to go until the UPC opens its doors on 1 June 2023.  On the 9th of May the UPC has passed the 100,000 …

Read article
Event - 13th, 22nd June 2023

The HGF IP in Healthcare Conference 2023

We are delighted to invite you to HGF’s ninth annual IP in Healthcare Conference. This year’s focus is the importance of strategy. We will review the latest intellectual property issues …

Event details