Unitary Patent

The Unitary Patent (UP) is a European patent that, from the date of grant, has a unitary effect across all countries participating in the Unitary Patent system. Unlike the traditional European patent, which must be validated separately in each desired country, the Unitary Patent provides uniform protection in all participating countries through a single registration. The patent holder only needs to file a request for unitary effect with the European Patent Office. Once registered, the European patent takes effect as a unitary patent in all countries where the Unitary Patent system is in force at the time of grant.

From rights holders, the Unitary Patent simplifies patent portfolio management and improves legal certainty through centralized enforcement in the Unified Patent Court (UPC). The UPC offers a unified litigation system where decisions apply across all participating states, reducing the risk of conflicting rulings in different jurisdictions.

We provide expert assistance with filing and managing Unitary Patents and help assess whether the Unitary Patent is the right choice for your invention and business strategy. We also support transitional measures such as opting out of the UPC system and offer guidance in UPC litigation, licensing, and portfolio strategy related to Unitary Patents.

You can find more information on the Unitary Patent system in the Unitary Patent System article in the IPR Basics section of our website.