With a "no-deal" Brexit still a possibility and the Unitary Patent system set to take effect sometime this year, EU patent applicants who want protection in the UK should be aware of the many moving parts to consider.
Patent applicants who wish to file for a European patent and receive patent protection in the United Kingdom (UK) should consider whether they want the European patent to have "unitary" effect and be mindful of the UK's participation in the Unitary Patent system.
The UK European Union membership referendum, known commonly as "Brexit," took place on June 23, 2016. The referendum resulted in a majority of votes in favor of leaving the European Union (EU). A "no-deal" Brexit was set to occur on April 12, 2019, but in the final days leading up to the deadline, EU leaders offered extension until October 31, 2019.
Click here to read "What to Know in the Lead-Up to Brexit and the Unitary Patent System" by Vincent Look in IPWatchdog.
Vincent Look is an intellectual property and registered patent attorney in Womble Bond Dickinson's Los Angeles office. His practice is focused on patent prosecution and intellectual property counseling in the fields of electronics, software, energy storage, aerospace, electro-mechanical and medical devices.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.