Though the European Union’s (EU) Unitary Patent Convention and its associated EU patent had originally been expected to come into effect in 2017, this was dependent upon ratification of the agreement by thirteen EU countries (one of which had to be the United Kingdom (UK)). However, the UK’s vote on June 23 to leave the EU created uncertainty regarding that agenda. That uncertainty appears to have been removed. On November 28, 2016, Baroness Neville-Rolfe, the UK Minister of State for Intellectual Property, announced that the United Kingdom would continue with the necessary steps towards ratification of the Convention.
To read more about the effect of the Brexit on the EU’s Unitary Patent Convention, please see our Education Center article: UK to Continue Steps Towards Ratification of Unitary Patent Convention Despite Brexit.