On 27th February ZBM’s Montserrat Jané and Noemí Daviu held a lecture entitled ‘The Unitary Patent (UP) and the Unified Patent Court (UPC): implications, opportunities, doubts and decisions to be taken’, as part of the University of Barcelona’s Patent Centre’s ‘Patent Mondays programme’, organised jointly with Spanish Patent and Trademark Office.

Over 100 attendees were present to hear Noemí and Montse elaborate on the opportunities and concerns of the new system, beginning with a brief introduction of the new unitary patent package and its conditions and registration procedures. Later they talked us through issues such as how the new system affects the patent strategy of a company, impact on licences and collaboration agreements, on opposition and limitation procedures, or on patents as objects of property, jurisdiction of the UPC, or opt-out/opt-in requirements, amongst others.

The main purpose of this conference was to provide useful and practical information to those from different backgrounds and levels of patent experience and to update professional knowledge with the aid of expert tutors who have hands-on experience. Noemí and Montserrat hold an MSc in Chemistry and Diploma in Patent litigation in Europe (CEIPI), they are both Qualified European Patent Attorneys with many years of experience in the IP field.