This notice repeals the notice from the European Patent Office dated 22 December 2021 concerning the forthcoming introduction of the Unitary Patent and the possibility to file early requests for unitary effect (OJ EPO 2022, A6) as of its date of publication in the Official Journal of the European Patent Office. Please note that the present notice merely reflects the fact that the start date for filing early requests for unitary effect has been adjusted. No other changes were made.
Regulations (EU) No 1257/2012 and (EU) No 1260/2012[ 1 ] setting up the Unitary Patent will apply from the date of entry into force of the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (UPCA).[ 2 ]
In order to facilitate the introduction of the Unitary Patent system, the European Patent Office (EPO) will accept requests for unitary effect[ 3 ] filed prior to the date of application of the above-mentioned Regulations (hereinafter referred to as "early requests for unitary effect"). Such early requests for unitary effect will be allowed to be filed as of 1 January 2023. Early requests for unitary effect may only be filed for European patent applications in respect of which a communication under Rule 71(3) EPC has been despatched. Read more