Overview UP and UPC
Patents/ Utility Models
The main advantages of the Unitary Patent relate to administrative, financial and procedural aspects.
Individual validations can be dispensed with for the plurality of participating EU member states. A single annuity fee has to be paid, which is cheaper for four countries or more. However, patent protection can no longer be abandoned on a country-by-country basis. Besides, not all EU member states are covered. For example, Spain has decided not to take part in the Unitary Patent.
In case of a change of ownership, a single request is sufficient for official recording.
Decisions of the UPC apply to all participating EU member states. On the downside, this opens up the possibility of a central invalidity attack. On the upside, a favorable decision regarding infringement is enforceable with a broader territorial effect. A Unitary Patent and national patents can coexist (double protection), which increases the options for action (choice of court, separate abandonment of rights, etc.).
"Patent Filing – Germany 2024"
We are very pleased that WITTEWELLER has once again been recognized as one of the leading patent law firms in the field of "Patent Filing Germany" in 2024.
The business magazine Handelsblatt recognizes WITTEWELLER as "Best Lawyers" in industrial property protection for the year 2024, highlighting partners Dr. Volker Heuckeroth, Stephan Keck, Christian Steil, and Mark Wegener.
The Financial Times lists WITTEWELLER as one of the leading European patent law firms in 2024, particularly recognized in the category "Electrical Engineering and Physics."
"Patent Filing – Germany 2023"
In 2023, our firm was once again recognized as one of the leading patent law firms in the field of "Patent Filing Germany."
The business magazine Handelsblatt recognizes WITTEWELLER as "Best Lawyers" in industrial property protection for the year 2023.
View RankingThe business magazine Financial Times again lists WITTEWELLER as one of "Europe's Leading Patent Law Firms" in 2023.
View RankingThe business newspaper Handelsblatt once again names WITTEWELLER as "Germany’s Best Lawyers" in the field of industrial property rights for 2022.
View Ranking"Patent Filing – Germany 2022"
In 2022, WITTEWELLER was once again recognized by specialist publisher JUVE as one of the leading patent law firms in the category "Patent Filing Germany."
The business magazine Financial Times lists WITTEWELLER as one of "Europe's Leading Patent Law Firms 2022."
View RankingNews magazine FOCUS recommends WITTEWELLER 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 particularly pleased that our firm once again received an above-average approval rating among clients.
In 2021, WITTEWELLER was again recognized by the business newspaper Handelsblatt as "Germany’s BEST attorneys" in the field of industrial property rights.
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"Patent Filing – Germany 2021"
In 2021, WITTEWELLER was recognized by JUVE as one of the leading patent law firms in the category "Patent Filing Germany 2021."
FOCUS listed WITTEWELLER as a top patent law firm in 2021 in its list of leading commercial law firms.
In 2020, WITTEWELLER was recognized by the business newspaper Handelsblatt as "Germany’s BEST attorneys" in the field of industrial property rights. On this occasion, special recognition was given to the WITTEWELLER attorneys Dr. Volker Heuckeroth, Stephan Keck, and Mark Wegener.
View Ranking"Patent Filing – Germany 2020"
In 2020, WITTEWELLER was recognized 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 was singled out as a particularly recommended attorney.
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