08/06/2017
An announcement appeared on the Unified Patent Court website on 7 June stating that “the previously announced target date for the entry into operation of the UPC, envisaged for December 2017, cannot be maintained.”
The delay is caused by delays in some of the national procedures on ratification of the UPC Agreement and the Protocol on Provisional Application. The system cannot start until these are completed. The timing of today’s UK Parliamentary election may have been a contributory factor.
In the meantime, the practical steps of recruiting judges, training people, and setting up the IT systems for case management are continuing and it is to be hoped that commencement will occur reasonably early in 2018.
We will continue to monitor the situation and will provide you with updates when we have further news. If you have any specific questions relating to the UPC please get in touch with your usual R&G contact.
This article is for general information only. Its content is not a statement of the law on any subject and does not constitute advice. Please contact Reddie & Grose LLP for advice before taking any action in reliance on it.
