EU Patent Reform: The “expert teams” of the Preparatory Committee,

Article on the composition of the “expert teams” of the Preparatory Committee for the Unified Patent Court and on the participation of members from the legal profession “in their personal capacity” (Published on 16/06/2016)

There have probably rarely been legislative proceedings of such technocratic nature as those on the European “patent package”. Patent practitioners, especially judges and members of the legal profession, have been involved extensively in order to use their experience for the new system. An important role in this is played by the Preparatory Committee of the Unified Patent Court which is entitled to appoint so-called “expert teams” for its support and advice. Conflicts of interest do not seem to play a role when it comes to filling the positions of these teams. Appointments from the legal profession, the members of which often have significant financial interests in the realisation of the “patent package”, have repeatedly been made in favor of the same individuals from only a few law firms. Some of these persons use their membership for promoting the advocacy services of their law firms. These “expert teams” and their composition will afterwards be given a closer look.

  • Download English version (Article of 16/06/2016, PDF)
  • Download German version (Article of 16/06/2016, PDF)

Resources:

  • Link to Council document 6572/13 of 19/02/2013 (PDF)
  • Link to Council document 7265/13 of 08/03/2013 (PDF)
  • Link to Council Document 15819/13 of 18/11/2013 (PDF)
  • Link to the “communication plan” of the Preparatory Committee (PDF)
  • Link to the “Organisational rules” of the Preparatory Committee (PDF)
  • Link to the communication “Revised 16th draft of the Rules of Procedure” of 06/03/2014 on the conclusion of work by the “Drafting Committee” on www.unified-patent-court.org
  • Link to the communication “Public consultation on the Rules of procedure for the Unified Patent Court” of 25/06/2013 on the composition of the “Drafting Committee” on www.unified-patent-court.org (PDF)
  • Link to the communication “Progress in 2013” of 18/12/2013 on the creation of the “Advisory Panel” on www.unified-patent-court.org
  • Link to the communication “Chairman invites new Expert Panel to advise Preparatory Committee” of 16/09/2014 on the creation of the “Expert Panel” on www.unified-patent-court.org
  • Correspondence with the Chairman of the Preparatory Committee of the Unified Patent Court, Alexander Ramsay (PDF)
  • Link to the European Commission Expert Group for Industrial Property (PDF)
  • Link to the written statement by Prof. Tilmann to the European Scrutiny Committee des House of Commons (PDF)
  • Link to the letter by Hogan Lovells of 12/04/2012 to the European Scrutiny Committee des House of Commons (PDF)
  • Link to the ranking “The world’s leading patent professionals 2016” of IAM Media
  • Link to the Chambers UK Guide for Intellectual Property of 10/03/2016 (PDF)
  • Link to the conference program “Annual Conference on the EU Unitary Patent 2015”, 26/11/2015, Brussels (PDF)
  • Link to the conference program “Preparing for the Unitary Patent Package”, 4-5/12/2014, London (PDF)
  • Link to the conference program “The future unified patent litigation system in the European Union”, 23/09/2011, Warsaw (PDF)
  • Link to the conference program “Annual Conference on the EU Unitary Patent 2016”, 22/01/2016, Brussels (PDF)
  • Correspondence with the former Chairman of the „Drafting Committee“ and current member of the „Expert Panel“, Kevin Mooney (PDF)
  • Link to the communication “Kevin Mooney Awarded ‘Outstanding Individual Achievement in IP’” on www.simmons-simmons.com


If you wish to support my work, you can do so here. Many thanks!