Absence of European patent costs EUR 425,000 per day

According to a EUROCHAMBRES calculation*, each day lost in negotiations costs no less than EUR 425,000 to European businesses. This sum is based on “validation costs” and does not take into account additional administrative burdens generated by the complexity of registering transfers, licences and other rights or the multiple litigations issue.

The decades-old quest for a common EU patent was close to being resolved in December, but a fresh dispute over the seat of the main patent Court – London, Munich or Paris – blocked a final agreement.

“Growth is on everyone’s lips, which makes the failure of Heads of State Cameron, Merkel, and Sarkozy to agree on this emblematic lever for EU competitiveness all the more infuriating,” said Arnaldo Abruzzini, Secretary General of EUROCHAMBRES. “European leaders have recently talked a lot about the cost of non-Europe – the non-European patent is a prime example.”

EUROCHAMBRES urges Germany, France and the United Kingdom to finalise the negotiations at the 21 February Competitiveness Council. Delaying a decision to the end of June, the ultimate deadline set at the January European Council, would cost the EU economy a further EUR 54 million.

* The calculation is based on figures published in the European Commission’s impact assessment related to the creation of the unitary patent (13.04.2011).

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EUROCHAMBRES – The Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry represents over 20 million enterprises in Europe – 93% of which are SMEs – through members in 45 countries and a European network of 2000 regional and local Chambers.