Lithuania and Estonia Ratify UPC Agreement, Slovenia Signs Protocol on Privileges and Immunities

Estonia deposited its instrument of ratification of the Unified Patent Court Agreement (UPCA) with the Council of the EU on August 1, 2017, while Lithuania did so on August 24, 2017, becoming the fourteenth country to have ratified the UPCA.

The UPC Agreement enters into force on the first day of the fourth month after France, Germany, the United Kingdom and at least 10 other EU member states have deposited their instrument of ratification. Because France ratified the Agreement back in 2014, the UPCA now only needs the UK and Germany’s ratification to enter into force.

Slovenia signed the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities (PPI) of the UPC on June 23, 2017, and shortly after deposited its instrument of ratification of the PPI with the Council of the EU.

The PPI enables the UPC to benefit from the privileges and immunities necessary for the exercise of its functions in Slovenia, which plans to host a local division of the UPC as well as one of the two seats of the UPC’s Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre in the capital of Ljubljana (the other seat is planned in Lisbon, Portugal).

While Slovenia completed its national ratification procedure in October 2016, it is yet to deposit its instrument of ratification of the UPCA with the Council of the EU.

Prepared by: Djurdja Krivokapić

For more information, please contact mail@petosevic.com.

Source: Council of the EU