At a glance: the European patent with unitary effect.

Everything is almost ready for a new patent system to come into force in Europe. Its implementation will provide access to a unitary patent and a Unified Patent Court that can be used to centrally enforce and invalidate patents in the relevant member states. This system will provide several advantages and will create a more business-friendly Europe regarding intellectual property rights. However, also some risks are associated with the new system. This article will provide a general overview over this future system and highlight some strategic options that may be considered when assessing patent filing, enforcement and clearance strategies.