EU Reveals Plans For Unitary SPC & Review Of Compulsory Licensing

SPC Plans Boosted By Go-Ahead For Unified Patent Court

The EU has announced two separate legal initiatives, one that would improve IP protections, and another that could weaken them in the event of a future health crisis.

Businessman holding a foldable smartphone with INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY inscription
For the pharmaceutical industry, strong IP protections are a cornerstone of R&D investment • Source: Alamy

The European Commission is drafting legislation to implement a single centralized process for obtaining supplementary protection certificates for pharmaceuticals and plant protection products in the EU, which would supersede the current practice of applying for certificates in individual member states.

It is also preparing to make the framework for compulsory licensing of patents more efficient in a bid to make...

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