The states of the European Union are currently collaborating to create a new type of European patent: the Unitary patent. The Unitary patent can be chosen after grant of the 'traditional European patent', and will have effect in all the joined European Union states. The Unitary patent offers an alternative to the traditional European 'bundle' validation process, where each country has to be validated individually.
This dossier offers an overview of all news articles relating to the Unitary patent.
June 24, 2015: Unitary patent: Renewal fees set
June 23, 2016: 'Brexit' and the Unitary patent
June 28, 2016: The Netherlands ratifies the UPC Agreement
November 28, 2016: Unitary patent still a possibility in 2017?
April 5, 2017: Brexit formally started: no ratification of UPC yet
May 5, 2017: Brexit delays Unitary patent
June 8, 2017: Unified Patent Court (UPC) will not start in 2017
June 29, 2017: Germany forms new obstacle for Unitary patent
April 30, 2018: Germany only remaining obstacle for Unitary Patent as UK ratifies
December 20, 2018: Another year gone: No Unitary Patent yet
December 2, 2019: Post-Brexit IP: what to prepare for?
March 5, 2020: United Kingdom backs out of Unitary Patent
March 23, 2020: Germany puts a hold on Unitary Patent
August 18, 2020: UK withdraws Unitary Patent ratification while Germany attempts ratification again
January 5, 2021: Germany and the UPC: history repeating itself
August 16, 2021: Germany give the Unitary Patent the go-ahead