On 19 and 20 September 2024, the UPC’s TQJs, TQJs and clerks, met in Vienna for the UPC’s annual training. This event was organized with support from the Austrian Patent Office and the European Patent Academy. 

With over 170 participants, this was a great opportunity for all attendees: judges, clerks and registry staff alike to meet, exchange ideas and share experiences gained during the Court’s first year and a half of operations. 

The training provided a review of the UPC’s achievements and the challenges faced during its first 15 months of operation, with a focus on the future direction of the Court. During lively panel discussions, a range of issues were addressed amongst which parallel proceedings before the Court, preliminary injunctions, transparency of proceedings, as well as harmonization of approaches. During break-out sessions, clerks had the opportunity to exchange on practical experience in areas such as confidentiality and anonymization of documents, orders and decisions, as well as servicing of originating pleadings. 

This open exchange of insights and best practices provides an important platform for enhancing the efficiency and consistency of the Court, and reinforcing the UPC’s commitment to ensuring a high-quality judicial process.

Alexander Ramsay, Registrar of the UPC

Christian Auinger, Head of the Civil Law Section at the Federal Ministry of Justice

Stefan Harasek,  President of the Austrian Patent Office

Klaus Grabinski, President of the Court of Appeal 

From left to right: Ingeborg Simonsson (Judge at the Court of Appeal), Florence Butin (President of the Court of First Instance), Mojca Mlakar (Presiding judge Ljubljana (SI) Local Division), Eric Augarde (Technically Qualified Judge)

©Fabian Skala