Happy 2nd Birthday to the Unitary Patent System!

Since its launch, the system has marked a significant step forward in simplifying patent protection across Europe. By offering a single patent valid in multiple EU countries and a unified litigation forum through the Unified Patent Court (UPC), it has brought greater efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and legal certainty to innovators and businesses alike.

According to the Statistics and Trends Centre of the European Patent Office (EPO), requests for unitary effect are steadily increasing, reflecting growing adoption of the Unitary Patent system among innovators. The Unitary Patent Dashboard provides a comprehensive overview, showcasing:

• Geographical distribution of patent proprietors
• Status and trends in requests for unitary effect
• Technology areas (based on IPC codes) covered by these patents
• The languages used for publication and subsequent translations

This data highlights how the system is gaining traction across regions and sectors, offering a clearer picture of its practical impact on the European innovation landscape.