The UK population has voted to leave the European Union (EU) although the referendum itself is not a legally binding trigger for a UK exit.

Bartle Read wish to emphasise that we will continue to represent clients’ interests within Europe and the UK.

The European Patent Office (EPO) and the European Patent Convention (EPC) are independent of the EU. Irrespective of the referendum result, Bartle Read’s patent attorneys will continue to file and represent clients before the EPO.

So far as the Unitary Patent system is concerned, since commencement of the system required ratification by the UK and the home of the ‘medicinal/pharmaceutical’ branch of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) was to be London, it seems most likely that there will be at the very least a delay in the introduction of the Unitary Patent system. Even so, we anticipate that Bartle Read will be able to represent clients before the UPC if and when the system comes into force.

What happens next?

The UK’s exit from the EU has yet to be invoked and there would subsequently be a two year period for exit negotiations to take place during which time the UK remains an EU member – it is uncertain as to when this might occur. We will keep clients informed as developments occur.

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