07.14.17

Michel Barnier, Once a Leading Proponent of UPC, No Longer Certain the UK Can Fit in or That UPC Will Happen

Posted in Europe, Patents at 2:08 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

Summary: The United Kingdom’s desire to be leaving the European Union challenges the very existence of the Unified Patent Court (UPC), as even negotiators with vested interests care to admit

THE EPO carries on lying about the UPC (as recently as earlier this month), which is basically going nowhere fast.

“Barnier says he is not sure what will happen to the UK and the European patent court,” this tweet said yesterday, linking to a short update that can be found by paging about 4 levels down in this live blog. It says “Barnier said it took the EU 35 years to create a rule for single patents. He says he is not sure what will happen to the UK and the European patent court.”

Barnier’s UPC lobbying back in the days cannot be forgotten and when he was assigned the task of Brexit negotiations we repeatedly noted his role in the UPC.

“The real news is, even UPC advocates like Barnier are not sure there will be a UPC.”UPC sceptic David Pearce‏ repeated yesterday: “As I’ve said before, the #UPC will be a factor in #brexit negotiations. Barnier seems to have confirmed this now.”

One can be sure that Bristows’ UPC spin blog will take it out of context. Alan Johnson resorted to quoting the Liar in Chief, who was lying to scientists about the UPC, then writing: “Speaking at a preview of the next round of Brexit talks, Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, and Commissioner for Internal Market and Services in charge of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) dossier at the time of signature in 2013 of the UPC Agreement, said the EU is reviewing whether or not the London section of the central division of the UPC will need to be relocated when the UK leaves the EU.”

As if it’s already a done deal. More spin and make believe from Bristows.

The real news is, even UPC advocates like Barnier are not sure there will be a UPC. To quote The Guardian, Barnier “is not sure what will happen to the UK and the European patent court.”

Don’t be fooled by Team UPC. █

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