UK Closer to Ratifying UPC Legislation

Secondary legislation required to bring the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities for the Unified Patent Court into effect in the UK (The Unified Patent Court (Immunities and Privileges) Order 2017) was laid before Parliament on 26 June 2017. The protocol establishes the legal personality of the Unified Patent Court in the UK.

The Order requires approval from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords before it can pass.

The Order, together with a separate Order expected to be laid before the Scottish Parliament, will enable the UK to formally ratify the UPC Agreement. Once the legislation has passed, the UK will be in a position to ratify the UPC Agreement, leaving Germany as the only remaining ratification required to bring the UPC Agreement into effect. The chairman of the preparatory committee is hopeful the UPC Agreement can enter into force in 2018.