UPC Paris welcomes Japanese delegations Over the past week, the Unified Patent Court (UPC) in Paris had the privilege of hosting two Japanese delegations, showcasing the Court's growing international presence and its role in the global patent landscape On 4 December 2024, the Paris Division of the UPC welcomed a delegation of examiners from the Japan Patent Office (JPO), accompanied by representatives from the French Patent Office (INPI). The visit focused on introducing the delegation to the principles and functioning of the Unified Patent Court. Later, on 10 December 2024, the UPC hosted a delegation from the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). This group included legal and intellectual property leaders from prominent Japanese companies with European subsidiaries, and IP attorneys from leading law firms across Europe (France, UK, Italy, Germany and Netherlands. The visit began with a presentation by Ms Florence Butin, President of the Court of First Instance and Ms Elise Mellier, Legal Advisor of the President of the Court of First Instance. They provided an overview of the UPC’s activities and discussed recent trends observed within the Court. The discussions that followed reflected the Japanese industry’s strong interest in the UPC as a new venue for patent litigation in Europe.