UPC event in Ireland: Maintaining commercial relevance of your European IP strategy with the new Unified Patent Court system

Event date: 6th October 2022

Join HGF in association with Ibec for our networking event and panel discussion exploring the practical ramifications of the Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court

Date

Thursday 6th October, 2022

Time

6PM

Venue

The Guinness Enterprise Centre (GEC), Dublin

About the event

The patent landscape in Europe is on the brink of the most significant change in a generation; a change that could significantly alter what is the most commercially relevant and cost-effective patent strategy for your business. We invite you to learn more about the strategic considerations and practicalities of the Unitary Patent (UP) and Unified Patent Court (UPC).

Our panellists will discuss:

• What does this mean for Irish businesses of all sizes and across all sectors for existing European patents and for future IP strategies?
• What are the advantages and cost benefits of the UP and UPC for Irish businesses; and
• What steps does Ireland need to take to be able to access the benefits the UPC could bring?

Panellists

• Naoise Gaffney, Head of Intellectual Property, GH Research and Chair of the Ibec Corporate IP Group
• Fiona Ryan, Start Up & Entrepreneurship Lecturer, Technological University Dublin and Co-Founder of Colata
• Joe Doyle, Intellectual Property Manager, Enterprise Ireland
• Andrew Knox, Lecturer in Biochemistry and Principal Investigator, Technological University Dublin and Founder of MyWorkaway
• Rachel Fetches, Partner & Head of Law, HGF
• Marie Walsh, Patent Director, HGF

Ireland and UPC

All Irish businesses will need to make important decisions now about their European patents as the UPC will affect all granted European patents and pending European patent applications, irrespective of the status of the Irish government’s progress towards ratification of the UPC Agreement. Additionally, the European Patent office (EPO) has announced new measures for supporting users in an early uptake of the UP.

Looking forward, there is a significant opportunity for Ireland to enhance its reputation as a hub for end-to-end IP activity, including obtaining and enforcement of IP rights. An Irish Local Division of the Unified Patent Court would support the further expansion of the patent-intensive sectors across the country, creating jobs, benefitting all Irish businesses and boosting Ireland’s innovation performance.

Further, the European UPC’s Central Division must find a new location, instead of London, for the cases it will handle in the chemicals, biopharmaceuticals and medical device sectors. These industries are key contributors to the Irish economy. As an English-speaking, common law jurisdiction, with strong links to the US and the rest of the world, Ireland is well-placed as a location for the Central Division Court which would mean easier access to enforcement of IP rights for Irish-based companies in those sectors.