European Parliament approves unitary patent rules

Following the historic vote yesterday in the European Union Parliament to approve the unitary patent regulation, which is intended to lead to one patent and one patent court system for EU member states, EU inventors will soon be able to get a unitary patent at last.

Over 30 years of talks, a new regime will cut the cost of an EU patent by up to 80%, making it more competitive vis-a-vis the USA and Japan. Members   of the European Parliament (MEPs) cut costs for small firms and tailored the regime to their needs, in a compromise deal with the Council endorsed by Parliament on Tuesday,

In three separate voting sessions, MEPs approved the so-called "EU patent package" (unitary patent, language regime and unified patent court). The Rapkay report was approved by 484 votes to 164 with 35 abstentions. The Baldassarre resolution was approved by 481 votes to 152 with 49 abstentions. The Lehne report was approved by 483 votes to 161, with 38 abstentions.