Overview UP and UPC
Patents/ Utility Models
A single court, the Unified Patent Court, centrally decides on patent infringement and validity, with a technically qualified judge typically being involved. The judgment applies to several countries and is enforceable on a central basis. However, the UPC can centrally declare invalid a Unitary Patent with effect for all participating EU member states.
The proceedings are short and will be conducted in a single language. The corresponding court file is digital. Communication takes place electronically. This saves time. However, tight and strict deadlines can lead to heavy time pressure in a dispute, especially if a plurality of proceedings have to be conducted in parallel before the UPC.
There is no established case law yet, so the outcome of proceedings is more difficult to predict. This will change, however, as the new system evolves.
Coexistence of a Unitary Patent and corresponding national IP rights (patent and/or utility model) increases strategic options.
„Patent Filing – Germany 2023“
We are very pleased that WITTEWELLER has again been recognized as one of the leading patent law firms in the “Patent Filing Germany 2023” area in 2023.
The business magazine Handelsblatt honours WITTEWELLER as "Best Lawyers" in Intellectual Property for 2023, singling out partners Dr Volker Heuckeroth, Stephan Keck, Christian Steil and Mark Wegener in particular.
View RankingThe Financial Times ranks WITTEWELLER as one of the leading European patent law firms in 2023. In the ranking, WITTEWELLER is particularly distinguished in the category "Electrical Engineering and Physics".
View RankingOnce again in 2022 the business newspaper Handelsblatt names crown WITTEWELLER ‘Germany’s best lawyers’ in the field of industrial property rights.
View Ranking„Patent Filing – Germany 2022“
WITTEWELLER was once again hailed as one of the leading patent law firms in the category ‘Patent Filing Germany’ by specialist publisher JUVE in 2022.
Business magazine the Financial Times ranks WITTEWELLER as one of ‘Europe‘s Leading Patent Law Firms 2022’.
View RankingNews magazine FOCUS recommends WITTEWELLER – as it did the previous year – as one of the leading law firms for patent law in 2022 in its annual ranking of Germany’s corporate law firms. We are delighted with the result and take particular pleasure in the fact that, once again, our firm has succeeded in achieving an above-average approval rating among clients.
In 2021, WITTEWELLER was again recognised by the Handelsblatt as "Germany’s BEST attorneys" in the field of industrial property rights.
View ranking
"Patent Filing – Germany 2021"
In 2021, WITTEWELLER was recognised by JUVE as one of the leading patent law firms in the category "Patent Filing Germany 2021".
WITTWELLER was listed as a top patent law firm in 2021 in the FOCUS list of leading commercial law firms.
In 2020, WITTEWELLER was recognised by the Handelsblatt as "Germany’s BEST attorneys" in the field of industrial property rights. On this occasion, the Handelsblatt gave a special mention to the WITTEWELLER attorneys Dr Volker Heuckeroth, Stephan Keck and Mark Wegener.
View ranking"Patent Filing – Germany 2020"
In 2020, WITTEWELLER was recognised by JUVE as one of the leading patent law firms in the category "Patent Filing Germany 2020".
The WirtschaftsWoche ranks WITTEWELLER among the top law firms in patent law. In the ranking for 2020, Dr Gabriele Laufer is singled out as a particularly recommended attorney.
View ranking