UNIFIED PATENT COURT (UPC) Einheitliches Patentgericht (EPG) Juridiction Unifiée du Brevet (JUB)

Transcription

1 UNIFIED PATENT COURT (UPC) Einheitliches Patentgericht (EPG) Juridiction Unifiée du Brevet (JUB) almost there. Sam Granata Judge Court of Appeal Antwerp Agoria Conference on the UP and UPC October 20, 2016

2 Basics / Why? The Structure The Competence The Judges The Proceedings Highlights / Judge-Rapporteur Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre Miscellaneous Brexit

3 Basics / Why? Jurisdiction for validity and infringement given to national courts in parallel proceedings causes: Forum shopping strategies (choose the best court to bring your case) Conflicting decisions (courts of various countries issue opposite rulings on the same patent) Source: Harhoff

4 Basics / The Structure A court common to several EU Member States, not a EU court Legal Instruments Regulation 1257/2012 enhanced cooperation creation of unitary patent protection Regulation 1260/2012 (translation arrangements) Agreement on a Unified Patent Court and draft Statute Draft Rules of procedure Unified Patent Court (Version 18)(Oct. 19, 2015) (subject to legal scrubbing)

5 CURRENT PATENT LITIGATION Patents are subject to the laws of the countries of registration, and so are claims for infringement (CJEU 13 July 2006, Roche / Primus&Goldenberg) 38 countries to litigate & 38 national laws to apply Art Brussels I Regulation: validity exclusive jurisdiction of each country of registration UPC LITIGATION SYSTEM Single court for patent litigation (infringement/validity/damages) 25 (24?) countries (Poland / Spain / Croatia / UK?) Two tier system (CFI and CA) No anglo-saxon discovery / disclosures No German Besichtigungsanspruch Introduction of witness statements / cross-examination Unitary and European Patents NATIONAL COURTS European Patents / National Patents

6 Basics / The Structure (coming into existence)

7 Basics / The Structure (coming into existence) Participating MS Participating MS which have ratified Non- participating MS Stibbe 7

8 Basics / The Structure Local Divisions CJEU Court of Appeal Luxembourg Central Divisions London / Paris / Munich COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE Regional Divisions Registry (Luxembourg) Training Center for Judges (Budapest) Patent Mediation and Arbitration Center (Lisbon/Ljubijana)

9 Basics / Competence UP EP (transitional) Actions patent infringements Actions provisional and protective measures and Injunctions Actions Damages and Compensation derived form provisional protection Actions related to Prior use Counterclaims for Revocation (pending infringement cases) (subj. art UPCA) Actions Declaration Non-Infringement Revocation Actions Actions decisions of the EPO (tasks art. 9 Reg. EU 1257/2012) Actions Defendants domiciled outside the Territory Actions no local/regional Division Local / Regional Division Central Divison

10 Basics / The Structure (central) Division London Paris (President Office) Munich Section A: Human Nececisities C: Chemistry - Metallargy B: Performing operations / Transporting D: Textiles / Paper E: Fixed Constructions G: Physics H: Electricity F: Mechanical Engineering / Lighting / Heating / Weapons / Blasting

11 Basics / The Structure (local & regional) Division Country Local Divisions Finland / Denmark / UK / The Netherlands / Germany (4 divisions) / Belgium / France / Italy Regional Divisions No Local No Regional = Central Division Baltic Regional Division (SE / EE / LT / LV) CS-SK Regional Division? Central Regional Division? (HU / SI / HR) Eastern Regional Division? (BG / CY / GR / ROM) AT / IE / LU / MT / PT

12 Basics / The Judges Legally Qualified Judges (LQJ) and Technically Qualified Judges (TQJ) (Art. 15 UPCA) Pool of Judges Selection of Judges (application by July 4, 2016) Number of Judged to be appointed (first stage) / Part Time Training Centre (Budapest) (collaboration EPO Academy) Private entities (CIEPPI Strasbourg)

13 Basics / The Judges Court of Appeal L L L T T Local Divisions COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE Central Divisions Regional Divisions L L L T L L T L L L T

14 Basics / The Judges Court of Appeal????? Local Divisions COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE Central Divisions Regional Divisions

15 Basics / The Judges Court of Appeal COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE Central Divisions? Local Divisions (+ 50) Local Divisions (-50) Regional Divisions???

16 Basics / The Proceedings Phased Proceedings Written phase Interim phase Oral phase Consecutive Nature of Proceedings ( Bifurcation ) Validity and Infringement Damages and Costs

17 Basics / The Proceedings General Principles Decision on infringement and validity (1st instance) within one year (preamble UPCA cons. 7) The burden of proof of facts shall be on the party relying on those facts (Art 54 UPCA exception process claims (art 55 UPCA)) Statement of fact not specifically contested shall be held to be true (Rule 171 RoP) Duty to produce evidence (Rule 172 RoP) No Skeleton arguments (preamble UPCA cons. 7 / Rule 13 RoP) Front loaded-procedure

18 Highlights / Judge-Rapporteur Key-player in the system Wide range of decisions Case Manager / Settlement Seeker Harmonizing factor (careful approach) Judge-Rapporteur shopping?

19 Highlights / The Patent Mediation & Abritration Centre One-Stop-Shop dispute resolution UPC The Court First Instance Appeal ABOVE THE PARTIES Court The Centre (PMAC) Arbitration Mediation BETWEEN THE PARTIES Mediation ABOVE THE PARTIES Arbitration

20 Other issues Language issues Opt-Out system Bifurcation Court Fees Forum Shopping

21 Highlights / Brexit UK is a member of the EU Options Losing the Momentum Uncertainties out of the box thinking (Spain / Central Divisions / )

22 . QUESTIONS