The introduction of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) is the hottest topic of conversation at the moment, not only in the Netherlands, but throughout Europe. The European Patent Office (EPO) is nearing completion of the UPC’s establishment process, and it is expected to come into effect in late 2022. The...

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The introduction of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) is the hottest topic of conversation at the moment, not only in the Netherlands, but throughout Europe. The European Patent Office (EPO) is nearing completion of the UPC’s establishment process, and it is expected to come into effect in late 2022. The change will create a unified approach to patent registration and litigation across the 24 member states and increase the ease and effectiveness of patent protection across the continent. One of the key questions that Dutch practitioners want answered is where the central division for life sciences will be located, as the country has worked hard to become Europe’s number one hub, but other countries, namely Italy, are also vying for the position. In the meantime, law firms are preparing their teams and clients for the new system and the inevitable shift this will bring to the market.

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