Unitary Patent

The unitary patent came into force since 1 June 2023 - a patent that offers protection for 17 countries of the European Union “in one go”. On this page, you can read everything about a unitary patent.

Cost reduction

The unitary patent makes it possible to apply for a patent that is valid in several countries at a lower cost.

Easier administration

Because patents can be applied for centrally, it is no longer necessary to go to a national court of the country in question.

Unified Patent Court

You can enforce your unitary patent in a centrally oriented court.

More powerful patent

The unitary patent makes it possible to take infringers to court in a more “powerful” way.

What does a unitary patent cost?

The costs of a unitary patent differ in many cases from the costs of a ''classic'' European patent.

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Since when has the unitary patent been available?

The unitary patent came into force since 1 June 2023

In which countries is a unitary patent valid?

The unitary patent provides protection for the following 17 countries of the European Union; Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Finland and Sweden.

Is a unitary patent valid worldwide?

A unitary patent is not valid worldwide. For EU countries that do not participate in the unitary patent, the situation remains “the same” and protection can only be obtained through a “classic” European patent.

Why was the unitary patent created?

The unitary patent was created to make it easier and cheaper to obtain patent protection in several European countries at the same time. A unitary patent is (as stated above) more cost-efficient, in particular with regard to the costs of the renewal fees, and on the other hand, the "Unified Patent Court" to be set up offers the possibility to establish the validity of a unitary patent - or infringement of a unitary patent - “centrally”, without having to initiate separate procedures at national level.

What is the difference between a unitary patent and a European/worldwide patent?

Patents are essentially national rights. This means that patents must in principle be applied for in every country where you would like to establish patent rights.

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What is the Unified Patent Court?

This is a new European patent court where unitary patent disputes are settled. This court only deals with patent cases.

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