Aleksandar Mijatovic / Shutterstock.com
The unitary patent and UPC would still go ahead, but what would be the impact for the life sciences sector if the UK voted to leave the EU? Victoria Bentley and Helen Cline of Pinsent Masons investigate.
Since January 2013, UK Prime Minister David Cameron has committed to negotiating a ‘better deal’ with the EU ahead of an in/out referendum by the end of 2017 at the latest. A letter to the president of the European Council, published on November 10, will pave the way for detailed talks among EU leaders on reforming the UK’s membership of the EU in advance of the referendum.
Here we consider the potential impact on patent law and the filing and commercialisation strategies implemented by life sciences companies of a UK exit from the EU. Although one consequence would be that the UK would not be part of the new EU patent package—the unitary patent and Unified Patent Court (UPC)—the package is likely to go ahead, because neither initiative requires UK participation in order to function.
Mark Carney, governor of the Bank of England, and other business leaders have called on the UK government to bring forward the referendum and it now looks increasingly likely that it will be in summer or autumn of 2016.
Life Sciences Intellectual Property Review (LSIPR) tracks the increasing challenges for intellectual property specialists in the rapidly evolving world of life sciences. From gene patents to stem cell research, we provide the very best news and analysis.
To continue reading this article and to access 4,500+ articles, our digital magazines and special reports published for LSIPR subscribers only then you will need a subscription.
If you are already subscribed please login.
Official LSIPR subscribers include:
Allen & Overy
Arnold & Siedsma
Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch LLP (BSKB)
Carpmaels & Ransford
Cooley
European Patent Office
Finnegan LLP
GH Research
Gowling WLG
George Washington Law School
HGF Limited
IQVIA
Kirkland & Ellis International LLP
Marks & Clerk
Mintz Levin
NiKang Therapeutics Inc.
Powell Gilbert LLP
Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP
Taylor Wessing
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Valea AB
World Intellectual Property Office
For multi-user price options, or to check if your company has an existing subscription we can add you into for FREE, please contact Atif at achoudhury@newtonmedia.co.
If you have any technical issues please email tech support.
Victoria Bentley, Helen Cline, Pinsent Masons, EU, patent, filing, portfolio, UPC, SPCs, agreement,
