Germany to push ahead with ratifying European patent court

Government will seek two-thirds majority needed before current parliament is dissolved

The German government has said it will seek to ratify the country’s membership of the planned European Unified Patent Court by a vote in the Bundestag, the German parliament, before the current assembly is dissolved in summer 2021. The confirmation has eased fears that the UPC could be killed off rather than merely delayed by a recent German court verdict.

Germany’s highest constitutional court ruled on 20 March that a 2013 attempt by eight judges to ratify the laws underpinning the UPC was not binding, and that two-thirds of the Bundestag’s members would have to vote for ratification for it to become law. Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection Christine Lambrecht said on 26 March the government would “examine possibilities to remedy” the issues raised by the ruling “during this legislative period”.