Seminar: "Why 2023 promises to be epic for patents!”

The Science Park University of Antwerp and GEVERS invite you to join this free seminar on the new European Unitary Patent System.

As you may have heard, 2023 will bring some important changes to the European patent system. June 1st, a new Court, the Unified Patent Court, will come into existence. On top of that, after obtaining a European Patent, it will become possible to request unitary effect and obtain a so-called Unitary Patent (UP). This will offer uniform coverage in, for now, 17 EU Member States, a single renewal fee equivalent to 4 countries to be paid to the EPO, no validation costs, only one translation to be filed and no fee to be paid for the unitary protection application. 
These new tools in the patent landscape definitely offer opportunities, however can also present challenges for existing European patent (applications).

In this seminar we will focus on the following questions:
•    What is the current situation in the EU for patent protection?
•    What is a Unitary Patent (UP)?
•    What will change?
•    What is the Unified Patent Court (UPC)?
•    What will the UPC do?
•    Can I be brought before this new Court?
•    How will these changes affect my existing patent portfolio?
•    How can I prepare for this new system?

Programme

08h30 – Welcome coffee
09h00 – European Unitary Patent System – Part I
10h00 – Coffee break
10h30 – European Unitary Patent System – Part II
11h30 – End of the seminar, with possibility for brief 1-on-1 meetings with GEVERS (*)

(*) Limited places available. Registration required and on a first come, first served basis.