Updates on EPC, PCT, EPO case law and the e-EQE

This is the second round of the UPC quick tip series, again trying to sort out overly optimistic praises as well as undue critics.

An important factor when choosing between national bundle patents and Unitary patents are the maintenance costs. Attempts to declare the Unitary patent (UP) as inexpensive by comparison with the costs of renewal fees accumulated over all participating states appear rather misleading since almost nobody would ever consider such selection.
The UP is a different product which calls for adapted validation strategies, and one practical example will be sketched in this post.

This is the first post of a quick tip series, which is intended to provide a view on the UPC between the overly optimistic perspective of its promoters and the mere collections of legal issues of its opponents.

After many years of delay, the UPC has regained its momentum and there seems little that could still prevent it from becoming a reality (which does not mean that there could not be new challenges coming up after start). An important difference from false promises of the past is that the inofficial waiting time of at least 7 years for fundamental changes in the EP patent system has now passed.