The Headquarters Agreement between the Unified Patent Court (UPC) and the Italian Republic was signed today at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Signing the agreement on behalf of Italy was the Director General for Europe of the Italian Foreign Ministry, Nicola Verola, while the President of the Court of Appeal, Klaus Grabinski, signed on behalf of the UPC. The ceremony was also attended by representatives of the Italian Ministries of Justice, of Enterprises and Made in Italy, and of Economy and Finance, as well as a representation of the Italian judges of the UPC.
As underlined by Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, “the signing of this agreement represents another significant step in the Italian Government’s efforts to promote the protection of industrial property, a crucial element for the growth and competitiveness of our country”.
Tajani also added that “with the Headquarters Agreement – the first in Europe since the Patent Court came into operation – Italy wishes to strengthen its cooperation with the UPC and undertakes to ensure that the UPC offices in our country can operate under the best conditions”.
The Headquarters Agreement comes after the Administrative Committee of the Unified Patent Court unanimously decided last June to set up a section of the central division of the UPC in Milan and following the International Training Days of the UPC held in Milan in November. The Unified Patent Court is a supranational European patent litigation system, whose rulings are to be recognised and enforced in all member states of the system.
