France: Court Procedure

The Paris Central Division of the Unified Patent Court has ruled on whether declaration of non-infringement actions can be filed against European patent applications before formal grant. This decision addresses the intersection of UPC jurisdiction, opt-out rights, and the timing requirements for initiating legal proceedings in the unified patent system.

The French Court of Cassation has established a critical limitation on enforcing arbitral awards against State-linked entities when EU financial stability objectives are at stake. In a landmark ruling involving Greece's asset management vehicle HCAP, the Court held that while creditors may generally pursue assets of State emanations, this doctrine must yield when enforcement would undermine EU-mandated restructuring and stabilization programs. This decision fundamentally reshapes enforcement strategy for ar

Depuis 2 ans et évidemment en lien avec la pandémie de COVID-19, l'OEB a mis en place une généralisation de l'utilisation des visioconférences pour la tenue des procédures orales devant les divisions d'Examen et d'Opposition.