EU single patent deal - but language question deferred (updated)
04 December 2009
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Emma Barraclough, Brussels
EU member states today signed an agreement in principle on establishing a single patent for the EU. But discussions over the language regime and a single court will continue next year
The deal came in response to proposals put forward by the Swedish presidency, and takes advantages of new procedures introduced by the Lisbon Treaty.
The agreement was reached at the meeting of the EU Competitiveness Council on Friday. Sweden's minister for trade Ewa Björling, who chaired the meeting, said she was "proud" that the Council "has now sent a clear and unambiguous signal to Europe's innovative companies that have long been calling for an improved patent system".
But patent owners and IP advisers say they will postpone celebrations until member states make more progress on the details of the deal.
Welcoming the development, Ilias Konteas, a senior adviser at BusinessEurope, said that it sent...
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