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...
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