Europe votes for single patents system

A European diplomatic odyssey lasting almost 40 years came to an end on the 11 December 2012 as the EU finally approved a common patent to cut costs and paperwork for inventors.

Separately but on the same day ECJ Advocate General Bot proposed in an Opinion that the European Court of Justice dismiss the actions brought by Spain and Italy against the Council’s decision authorising enhanced cooperation in the area of the unitary patent. The final judgement would be made in 2013.

ESO: Background information: Cameron blocks EU patent deal / EU breaks 30-year deadlock on EU patent http://www.europeansources.info/record/cameron-blocks-eu-patent-deal-eu-breaks-30-year-deadlock-on-eu-patent/

http://ec.europa.eu/growth/industry/intellectual-property/patents/index_en.htm http://ec.europa.eu/growth/industry/intellectual-property/patents/index_en.htm

European Parliament: Press Release, 11.12.12: Parliament approves EU unitary patent rules http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/content/20121203FCS04313/

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/12/971: Commissioner Barnier welcomes historic agreement on the European unitary patent package http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-12-971_en.pdf

EurActiv, 11.12.12: EU patent finally sees light – without Spain and Italy http://www.euractiv.com/innovation-enterprise/eu-patent-finally-sees-light-spa-news-516568

ECJ: Press Release, No.163, 2012: Advocate General Bot proposes that the Court dismiss the actions brought by Spain and Italy against the Council’s decision authorising enhanced cooperation in the area of the unitary patent http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2012-12/cp120163en.pdf

BBC News, 11.12.12: European Parliament votes for a unified patent scheme http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20679665

Deutsche Welle, 11.12.12; European patent scheme approved by legislators http://www.dw.de/european-patent-scheme-approved-by-legislators/a-16444180

EUObserver, 12.12.12: 'Historic day' as EU patent deal ends 40-year wait http://euobserver.com/political/118490

Les Echos / Libération / ABC, 12.12.12: EU (finally) adopts single European patent http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/3152531-eu-finally-adopts-single-european-patent

Blog: The IPKat, 18.04.13: One Down - Two, Three or More to Go … A Closer Look at the CJEU’s Decision on Enhanced Cooperation for the Unitary Patent http://ipkitten.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/one-down-two-three-or-more-to-go-closer.html

ECJ: Press Release, No.47, 2013: Judgment in Joined Cases C-274/11 and C–295/11 Spain and Italy v Council http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2013-04/cp130047en.pdf

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