Press Release

20/09/2006

EPLA new chance for a European patent regime. Klaus-Heiner Lehne MEP

McCreevy untangles cul-de-sac in patent discussion / EPP-ED supports EPLA approach / EU-wide patent registration and litigation finally to become cheaper

The Commission has made a fresh start to establishing an EU-wide patent regime. After calls from experts from SMEs, industry and trade during a Commission hearing on the future of the patent system in Europe, the Commission follows a new approach supporting the European Patent Litigation Agreement (EPLA) and the London Protocol. "I welcome the Commission's move. It helps simplify the procedure and lower the costs for small and medium-sized companies", says Klaus-Heiner Lehne MEP who is the EPP-ED spokesperson for Legal Affairs.

EPLA is a decentralised system of courts all over Europe with one central court for the second instance. "Unlike the Socialist propaganda it is not Munich-based. It is an appropriate system and helps overcome the standstill of the Community Patent Regulation. With EPLA we would have a standardised court procedure in all Member States instead of 25 different ones", Lehne said.

With the accession of the EC to the European Patent Agreement (EPA), the European patent system would be operational in the Community. The current patent regime would move into the scope of the European Union. Accession to EPLA would strengthen EU interests. "A workable patent regime would be a real step forward for the competitiveness of Europe and would be a great incentive for innovation."

The issue apparently proves too difficult for some die-hard, anti-innovation MEPs amongst the Socialist Group and so called "no-software-patent" people. "They compare 'apples with pears' in order to suppress a competitive and balanced patent system in Europe. The only thing these people have on offer is to dig up the buried 20 language-community patent which is never going to work", the CDU MEP said.

For more information:
Klaus-Heiner Lehne MEP, Phone +32 2 2847047
EPP-ED Press Office, Thomas Bickl, Phone +32 2 2832002 or +32 478 215372 (mobile)