Emma Barraclough, Brussels
On December 4, EU member states signed an agreement in principle to establish an EU patent and a single, Europe-wide patent court. Sweden's minister for trade Ewa Björling, who chaired the meeting of the Competitiveness Council, 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 key elements remain to be agreed. Here is Managing IP's guide to the deal.
What has actually been agreed?
On December 4, ministers at the EU Competitiveness Council agreed on the general focus of the European patent regulation and Council conclusions on a common European patent court, known as the European and EU Patents Court (EEUPC).
On the EU patent, member states agreed that a select committee of the EPO's Administrative Council should decide both the level of renewal...