Industrial property: Community patent

The Council held a debate on an enhanced patent system in Europe and adopted conclusions on the main features of the future patent system based on two main pillars comprising:

·        the creation of a unified patent litigation system that would have exclusive jurisdiction in respect of civil litigation related to the infringements and validity of EU and European patents, and would consist of a court of first instance (with a central division and local and regional divisions), and a court of appeal;

·        the creation of an EU patent as a unitary legal instrument for granting patents valid in the EU as a whole. In a public session the Council also agreed on a general approach (i.e. an agreement in principle pending the opinion of the European Parliament) on a draft regulation establishing the EU patent.

Recalling that enhancing the patent system in Europe is a necessary prerequisite for boosting growth through innovation and for helping European business, in particular SMEs, face the economic crisis and international competition, the Council considers that such an enhanced patent system is a vital element of the Internal Market and that it should be based on two pillars, i.e. the creation of a European Union patent ("EU patent") and the setting up of an integrated specialised and unified jurisdiction for patent related disputes thus improving the enforcement of patents and enhancing legal certainty.

The Council conclusions concern the main features of the European and EU Patents Court. This should have exclusive jurisdiction in respect of civil litigation related to the infringement and validity of EU patents and European patents. The EEUPC should comprise a Court of First Instance, a Court of Appeal and a Registry. The Court of First Instance should comprise a central division as well as local and regional divisions. The European Court of Justice shall ensure the principle of primacy of EU law and its uniform interpretation.

The Council considers that these conclusions should form part of the overall final agreement on a package of measures for an Enhanced Patent System in Europe comprising the creation of a European and EU Patents Court (EEUPC), an EU patent, including the separate regulation on the translation arrangements, an Enhanced Partnership between the European Patent Office and central industrial property offices of Member States and, to the extent necessary, amendments to the European Patent Convention.