Today, 1st June 2023 marks a historical milestone for the patent system across Europe and therefore also for the European Patent Attorney (EPA) profession.

With the Unitary Patent (UP) and the Unified Patent Court (UPC) becoming operational.

The new system enriches the European patent legal landscape by adding new options for obtaining patent protection as well as for enforcing or challenging EPO granted European patents.

There are also new roles for European Patent Attorneys in the new system where EPAs with an appropriate additional qualification are now able to fully represent clients in all proceedings before the new UPC, alternatively to lawyers, and can apply to be entered in the Official List of UPC representatives administered by the UPC Registry in Luxembourg.

I wanted to remind you that as an EPA who is on the Official List of professional representatives, I would be happy to assist clients and support their interests at all levels of the UPC and importantly help them make best use of the new European options.

Thanks very much indeed and please let me know if you have any questions.