Over the first successful year of application of the Unitary Patent system, the European Patent Office (EPO) has already registered more than 27,000 unitary patents. This means that on average, almost one in four (23%) granted European patents apply across all participating Member States. This rate is also steadily increasing. The uptake rate reaches almost 50% among applicants established in Denmark and Poland, and about 40% in Spain. Most patents are awarded for medical technology (31%), civil engineering (6%) and transport (5%).
About 350 cases have so far been initiated before the Unified Patent Court (UPC). This new court now enables centralised litigation not only for unitary patents, for which UPC has exclusive competence, but also for non-unitary European patents, under certain conditions.
Launched in June 2023, the Unitary Patent plays a crucial role in completing Europe’s Single Market for patents and has become a game-changer for the EU’s innovation and competitiveness. The system makes it easier for companies to protect their innovations, providing a one-stop shop for obtaining and enforcing patents in Europe. This allows companies to save costs as well as reduce paperwork and administrative burden. The creation of the Unified Patent Court also makes patent litigation less burdensome and expensive while providing increased legal certainty.
Unitary Patent system: More than 27,000 unitary patents (europa.eu)