European business community calls for the rapid ratification and entry into operation of the European patent system - Joint statement by BUSINESSEUROPE, EUROCHAMBRES, orgalim and SMEunited
BUSINESSEUROPE1, EUROCHAMBRES, Orgalim2, and SMEunited represent innovative businesses across Europe. One of our core objectives is to support innovation and boost the competitiveness of European companies, including Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs).
A comprehensive policy to protect inventions is vital for Europe and its prosperity. Moreover, a robust Intellectual Property Rights framework is an essential element of innovation policy, aimed at promoting growth and jobs in Europe and strengthening European competitiveness. To this end, a robust patent system is needed to stimulate innovation, and to maintain Europe’s position as an innovative global leader.
The creation of a Unitary Patent system (including the Unitary Patent and the Unified Patent Court)3 would create a more simple and harmonised European system (a “one-stop” shop) to grant patents to our companies; it would also enhance the quality and efficiency of patent protection in Europe. Such a system would bring significant benefits for our companies through increased legal certainty, cost-effectiveness, promotion of research and innovation, and global competitiveness.
The European patent system is a key element of the EU’s industrial policy to support innovation and achieve the twin objectives of the digital and climate transition. The creation of such a system would have the long-term effect of helping our innovative European businesses flourish in Europe. This is particularly needed to help our companies recover from the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
For all the reasons above, we call for the swift ratification of the Unified Patent Court Agreement and the entry into operation of the European Patent system as soon as possible.
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1 This paper and the positions reflected in it are not supported by the Spanish Confederation of Employers and Industries (CEOE), Confederação Empresarial de Portugal (CIP), the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic (SPCR) and MGYOSZ – BUSINESSHUNGARY.
2 Orgalim, Europe’s Technology Industries.
3 Regulation (EU) No 1257/2012 of 17 December 2012 implementing enhanced cooperation in the area of the creation of unitary patent protection, and Regulation (EU) No 1260/2012 of 17 December 2012 implementing enhanced cooperation in the area of the creation of unitary patent protection with regard to the applicable translation arrangements.