The Unitary Patent
This new patent will make it possible to obtain a patent protection in up to 26 member states by one single request to the European Patent Office (EPO). Nothing will change in the pre-grant phase and the same standards will apply during the search and examination phase. With this new patent, once it is granted the proprietor has the possibility of demanding an unitary effect, which will provide protection in up to 26 member states.
This new patent aims to reduce the complexity and cost of the actual European Patent procedure.
Currently the EPO examines patent applications centrally, which is cost saving. However, once granted a European must be validated and maintained individually in each country of protection. This is a complex and often costly phase, as requirements are not the same in each country (validation fees, translations, attorney fees etc).
The Unitary Patent this need for national validations procedures.
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