UPC | Romania is the 18th member state

Unified Patent Court (UPC) has started its operation on June 1, 2023. The UPC system simplifies patenting in Europe such that it is possible to request for unitary effect for a granted European patent in the countries, which have ratified the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (UPCA). A European patent with unitary effect may also be referred to as a Unitary Patent (UP).

The UPCA entered into force in Romania on 1 September 2024. It is therefore now possible to request for unitary effect for a granted European patent in 18 countries, which have ratified the UPCA.

The countries which have ratified the UPCA are at the moment (marked in the map): Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Sweden.

We will continue to actively monitor the situation and get back to you, if there are any changes.

If you have any questions relating to the UPC, please contact our UPC experts at upc@laineip.fi

Author

Jari Nieminen