Based on the experience during its first year of operation, the Court has decided to enter into an enhanced cooperation with the European Patent Office (EPO) regarding IT related matters. The first project will be to develop a case management system for the Court, which will enable the Court to be fully in control of the development as well as the running and maintenance of the system. 

The UPC and the EPO are public institutions that, in different parts, are entrusted with the running of the enhanced European patent system comprising the Unitary Patent Protection and the jurisdiction of the UPC. In these roles they are obliged to digitally exchange a considerable amount of information. The enhanced IT cooperation will facilitate this exchange and offer new opportunities to further improve and streamline the digital collaboration between both institutions. It will also benefit from the experience and expertise of the EPO concerning digital systems for patent prosecution and from the judges and staff of the Court concerning the specific needs of the Court. 

The Registrar of the UPC, Mr Alexander Ramsay comments the development: “I am happy that we have entered into a cooperation with the EPO on IT related matters comprising a case management system for the Court. I strongly believe it will benefit the users of the European patent system.” 

The UPC and the EPO are fully committed to fast track the development work and aim at having a system that can be operational by mid-2025.