 |
 |
| Benoît Battistelli, EPO |
David Rosenberg, GSK |
One of the highlights of the Managing IP International Patent Forum
in April was the debate over the unitary patent. The transparency of the
negotiating process, the advantages and disadvantages of bifurcation
and the quality of the courts that would decide disputes elicited strong
opinions from a panel.
Former judge Professor Sir Robin Jacob (who still sits part-time in
the Court of Appeal in London), EPO president Benoît Battistelli, David
Rosenberg of GSK, Richard Vary of Nokia and Bertram Huber of IP*Seva
demonstrated how the proposal for a unitary patent covering 25
jurisdictions in Europe still divides practitioners, judges, IP owners
and IP officials.
The unitary patent deal now awaiting approval from politicians
provides for a court that includes the possibility of bifurcation, in
which patent validity and infringement are...