EU moves on with plans to cut patent costs by up to 80%

The European Commission has now tabled a package of two legislative proposals for a single European patent which, it says, will reduce the cost of patents in Europe by up to 80%. Spain and Italy are still not participating in the long-delayed single patent scheme proposals, but the European Internal Market and Services Commissioner, Michel Barnier, said he continues to hope that, in time, all European Union (EU) member states will choose to join it. “It is my deeply-held conviction that there is no sustainable economic growth without innovation – and no innovation without efficient intellectual property protection,” he said. In March, an opinion issued by the European Court of Justice stated that the Commission’s proposal to set up a European and Community Patent Court would not be compatible with EU law, but Commissioner Barnier said the Commission would be presenting...