Unitary Patents
A simpler, less costly patent process
Introduced in 2023, Unitary Patents were designed to make managing patents in European countries easier and more cost-effective. If they suit your business needs, then they can be a great alternative to filing a European patent. However, it’s important to fully understand the differences and restrictions before you file.
These include:
The fact that a Unitary Patent gives you a single set of protection across all the countries that are part of the scheme
Some EU member states aren’t part of the Unitary Patent scheme, meaning you can’t get protection in these countries (such as Spain, Croatia and Poland)
The ability to enforce patents via the Unitary Patent Court in all the scheme’s countries at once, meaning parallel litigations don’t need to run at once
With one translation required and no official fee, filing a Unitary Patent is cheaper than filing separately in multiple countries
You pay a single, standard fee to renew the Unitary Patent rather than multiple payments across all the countries
It’s also worth noting that the Unitary Patent system is relatively new in legal terms. To navigate it effectively, it helps to have a professional patent attorney who understands the nuances and can help you choose the best, most valuable option for your business.
