London, Leeds & Exeter
Wed 31st Aug 2016
CIPA publishes a position paper on impact of Brexit on IP
Services: International reach, Patents
Sectors:
In a new position paper entitled The impact of Brexit on intellectual property, the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) has explained its position on the Unitary Patent and the Unified Patent Court as well as for a range of intellectual property issues that are likely to be affected by Brexit.
In a new position paper entitled 'The impact of Brexit on intellectual property', the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) has explained its position on the Unitary Patent and the Unified Patent Court as well as for a range of intellectual property issues that are likely to be affected by Brexit.
CIPA says it has a strong preference for the UK to participate in the Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court system if a solid legal basis for this can be agreed.
The opening message of the paper is that, despite the Brexit vote, it is ‘business as usual’ with existing UK national intellectual property rights and European patents and applications all unaffected.
The European Patent Convention and the European Patent Office are not European Union institutions. UK patent attorneys who are qualified European patent attorneys will still be able to represent clients in all work before the European Patent Office.
On the Unified Patent Court, the British government, assisted by CIPA and other national stakeholders, has worked tirelessly over many years to create a system favourable to the UK which should simplify the patent system for all businesses and reduce their costs. Plans were well advanced for part of the court’s central division to open in London, with Aldgate Tower in Whitechapel secured as the venue.
CIPA is working with other interested parties, including international colleagues, to optimise the chances of the UK’s continued participation.
In the paper, CIPA also details areas where there may be opportunities to strengthen UK intellectual property rights following Brexit.
Click here to read The impact of Brexit on intellectual property.
This briefing is for general information purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for legal advice relating to your particular circumstances. We can discuss specific issues and facts on an individual basis and answer any questions you receive from others about Brexit. Please note that the law may have changed since the date this was first published in August 2016.
