BREXIT UPDATE: PATENTS

Brexit Update: Will the current European patent system change?

Although it may be obvious to those in the know, the UK’s exit from the EU will not affect the current European patent system, which is governed by the European Patent Convention rather than the EU. As such, UK individuals and businesses will continue to be able to apply to the European Patent Office for patent protection and European patents will continue to apply to the UK. Existing European patents that have been pursued in the UK will also be unaffected. Moreover, Murgitroyd’s European patent attorneys, will moreover continue to be able to represent applicants before the EPO.

You may ask what effect Brexit might have on the Unified Patent Court (UPC), which as you may know is intended to be a court having exclusive competence in respect of European patents and European patents with unitary effect. In this respect, the UK announced on 21 July 2020 its official withdrawal from the UPC Agreement. The likely effect of this withdrawal is that the UPC agreement in its present form will not come into effect. That said, once the UK leaves the transitional arrangement with the EU at the end of 2020, the agreement can in principle come into effect. However, as a central division of the court was to be in London, a new agreement seems likely if the EU member states wish to continue with the project.

As regards the granting of Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs) for certain patents relating to medicinal or plant protection products, we understand also that the UK will maintain the current SPC legal framework in the UK when we leave the EU. As such, despite Brexit, it is business as usual in relation to patents in Europe.

For more information, please contact Steven Suèr:

T: +44 (0) 1224 706 616 E: [email protected]

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BREXIT UPDATE: PATENTS

Aberdeen Newcastle Unit G10, The Enterprise Centre, Exploration Mannerheimintie 12 B 5th Floor, 00100 Helsinki, Collingwood House, 3 Collingwood Street, Drive, Bridge of Don, , AB23 8GX, , NE1 1JW, United United Kingdom Tel: +358 (0) 9 2516 6388 Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 1224 706 616 Fax: +358 (0) 9 2516 6100 Tel: +44 (0) 191 211 3550 Fax: +44 (0) 1224 706 617 Fax: +44 (0) 191 211 3551 London Corinthian House, 17 Lansdowne Road, Nice 5th Floor, The Potthouse, 1 Hill Street, Belfast, Croydon, London, CR0 2BX, United Kingdom Immeuble Atlantis, 55 Allée Pierre Ziller, 06560 BT1 2LB, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 208 688 3490 Valbonne, Sophia Antipolis, France Tel: +44 (0) 28 90 320 441 Fax: +44 (0) 208 680 1225 Tel: +33 (0) 4 97 21 52 00 Fax: +44 (0) 28 90 320 442 Fax: +33 (0) 4 97 21 52 01 London City CityPoint, 1 Ropemaker Street, London, EC2Y RTP - North Carolina Cardiff Business Technology Centre, 9HT, United Kingdom 4721 Emperor Blvd, Suite 430, Durham, NC Senghennydd Road, Cardiff, CF24 4AY, United Tel: +44 (0) 207 153 1255 27703, USA Kingdom Fax: +44 (0) 208 680 1225 Tel: +1 (919) 474 8300 Tel: +44 (0) 29 2009 9999 Fax: +1 (919) 287 7336 Managua Fax: +44 (0) 23 8000 2023 Embajada de Mexico, Una cuadra arriba, A la Silicon Valley esquina, casa #100, Managua, Nicaragua 1275 Franklin Square, Santa Clara, CA 95050, Tel: +1 (919) 474 8300 Unit 1 Block 8, Blanchardstown Corporate Park, USA Fax: +1 (919) 287 7336 Cruiserath Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, Tel: +1 (408) 542 2970

Ireland Fax: +1 (408) 562 5745 Milan Tel: +353 (0) 1 882 9400 Piazza Borromeo 12, 20123 Milan, Italy Fax: +353 (0) 1 882 9401 Tel: +39 0287 398 550 Kings Park House, 22 Kings Park Road, Fax: +39 0287 398 555 Southampton, SO15 2AT, United Kingdom

14, rue du Rhône, 1204 Geneva, Tel: +44 (0) 23 8000 2022 Tel: +41 (0) 22 81 91 877 Fax: +44 (0) 23 8000 2023 Bernhard-Wicki-Straße 7, D-80636 Munich, Fax: +41 (0) 22 81 91 900 Germany Tel: +49 (0) 89 309 071 100 (Head Office) Enterprise House, Innovation Way, Heslington, Fax: +49 (0) 89 309 071 101 Murgitroyd House, 165-169 Street, York, YO10 5NQ, United Kingdom Glasgow, G5 8PL, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 1904 89 8881 Tel: +44 (0) 141 307 8400 Fax: +44 (0) 1904 89 8882 Fax: +44 (0) 141 307 8401

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