Managing Intellectual Property

Community patent due within five years

23 April 2007

Emma Barraclough, London

The European Union will have a Community patent within five years, the vice-president of the European Commission, who is in charge of enterprise and industry, told reporters last week

The European Union will have a Community patent within five years, the vice-president of the European Commission, who is in charge of enterprise and industry, told reporters last week.

"I am more optimistic about it than I was last year," Guenter Verheugen said. "Especially if the London Agreement enters into force – that's a very important first step."

Speaking at a Patent Forum in Munich organized by the EPO, Verheugen described the Community patent as "indispensable" for European companies.

"When it comes to IP, a lot of companies, especially SMEs, cannot afford to protect themselves. The normal European company...



Only subscribers have complete access to Managing IP Magazine, log in or subscribe now.

Alternatively take a free trial, giving you 48-hour access to Managing IP Magazine (some articles and surveys may be excluded).

Subscribe Now

This article is available to subscribers. Please click subscribe to read the rest of the article.

Subscribe

Take a free trial

Please take a free 48-hour trial to gain limited access. Some articles and surveys may be excluded.

Take a free trial


February 2012

Patent survey 2012

Managing IP ranks the leading patent firms around the world



Most read articles

Poll

Will the new post grant and inter partes review proceedings result in more litigators practising pro hac vice before the USPTO?







Supplements