The Unified Patent Court

Expert guidance and representation to help you navigate Europe’s new Unified Patent Court with confidence.

Harmonising Patent Litigation across participating EU states #

The Unified Patent Court (UPC) is a specialised court based in Luxembourg, Paris, and Munich. It was created to handle disputes related to European patents. The UPC was designed to simplify and unify patent litigation across participating European Union member states and came into force on 1 June 2023.

With the Unitary Patent now available, our attorneys provide clear guidance to help you secure efficient, cost-effective protection across Europe. Learn more about our expertise with the Unitary Patent.

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Key Benefits of the Unified Patent Court #

Single court: Patent owners and users can bring cases before one centralised court, instead of navigating the complex maze of multiple national courts.
Consistent rulings: Streamlines the litigation process and ensures more uniform decisions.

Composed of judges who are experts in legal and technical matters, the UPC ensures that all cases are evaluated with a deep understanding of both the legal and technical aspects involved. By enhancing legal certainty and predictability, the UPC aims to encourage innovation and investment across Europe, as it makes it easier for businesses to protect their intellectual property.

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More Flexibility for Patent Protection #

The establishment of the UPC and the closely related Unitary Patent means that there are now at least three possible routes to secure a patent in Europe:

Individual national/local filings
A ‘traditional’ EP, validated in selected territories
A unitary patent.

We anticipate that most clients will opt for a combination of these routes, providing more flexibility. Our pan-European office network means that we are well-placed to support you with any of these options and reduce the costs of securing patent protection in the extended European region (under the EPC).

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Why Murgitroyd? #

We have over 50 UPC representatives who are highly experienced in European IP law. They understand both the Unitary Patent system and the UPC litigation framework, giving you confidence that your IP is fully protected in the best way possible.
We understand that every business is different. That’s why we can help you choose the right patent protection strategy, evaluating the risks and opportunities of the UPC and aligning them with your commercial goals to maximise the benefits of the new system.
Beyond legal protection, we position ourselves as long-term partners, working with you to protect your IP whilst you expand, invest and scale.

In summary, Murgitroyd can make the UPC work for you, not against you.