INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY : MIXED REACTIONS TO PATENT RESOLUTION.

Tech Europe, November, 2006

The European Parliament's latest resolution on patents is receiving mixed reactions. The joint resolution, adopted on 12 October in plenary session, merely called on the Commission to explore "all possible ways of improving the patent and patent litigation systems". This includes "discussions" on the European Patent Litigation Agreement (EPLA) and further revision of proposals for a Community patent. MEPs also supported consideration of EU accession to the Munich Convention, signed in 1973 to establish a European system for the grant of patents.

As regards the EPLA, MEPs called for greater democratic control, judicial independence, more guarantees on litigation costs as well as a "satisfactory proposal" for the EPLA court's rules of procedure. With Internal...

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