Legal

Patent risk to Ireland as it fails to ratify treaty signed in 2013

Warning country could miss out on becoming a global IP hub as referendum needed to pass new law covering EU businesses

Catherine Sanz
September 3, 2023

The UPC is in force in 17 EU member states, but not Ireland

Ireland risks missing its chance to become a global IP hub because of delays in ratifying a major legal reform, lawyers and business representatives have said.

The Unified Patent Court (UPC), which establishes a common court for patents across participating EU member states, became operational in June, but has yet to be ratified in Ireland.

As a result of the system, businesses across the EU do not have to apply for multiple patents in each ...