Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

[**Avis juridique important**](../../../editorial/legal_notice.htm)

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# 92000E2296

**WRITTEN QUESTION E-2296/00 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Uniform Community patent.** 
  
*Official Journal 072 E , 06/03/2001 P. 0191 - 0192*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2296/00

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 July 2000)

Subject: Uniform Community patent

Scientific research and technological development are driving forces behind economic growth and the competitiveness of European SMEs and therefore effective and appropriate protection for intellectual property is essential.

The current European patent system is not only complex for the various Member States to administer, but also expensive. Furthermore, the high cost of patents is generally seen as one of the main obstacles to their widespread use in Europe. It should be noted that more than 45 % of the patents issued in Europe are of US origin and 15 % of those issued in the United States are of European origin.

Can the Commission say what measures it proposes to remedy this situation and, if it can, how and when it envisages implementing them?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(13 September 2000)

The Community patent is a priority issue for the Commission. Further to the conclusions of the Heads of State and Government at the Lisbon and Feira European Councils the Commission adopted its proposal for a regulation on the Community patent(1) on 5th July 2000. The proposed regulation aims at creating a Community patent which is affordable and which provides full legal security to industry. The Commission proposal on these aspects is both ambitious and balanced.

The final timetable for the introduction of the Community patent will depend on many factors, not least on the success of the revision of the EC Treaty concerning the establishment of a new, centralised Community jurisdiction to deal with litigation on validity and infringement of Community patents. An integrated jurisdictional system that provides maximum legal certainty for the unitary Community title is one of the most essential requirements for the success of the Community patent.

(1) COM(2000) 412 final.

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