Paris breaks the deadlock over patents

Date: 16/11/00

By Peter Chapman

A USER-FRIENDLY Union-wide patent system could be in place by the end of next year under a compromise formula tabled by the French presidency which looks set to be approved by member states.

But industry groups have criticised the plan, arguing that it is a classic EU fudge.

Single Market Commissioner Frits Bolkestein has faced an uphill struggle to persuade governments to accept his proposal for the Community patent because of opposition to setting up a centralised dispute resolution tribunal in Luxembourg.

Paris has broken the deadlock with a plan which would allow member states to set up such a tribunal at a later date. It hopes fellow governments will approve the proposal at next month's Nice summit, allowing leaders to keep the promise they have made to introduce an EU patent by December 2001.

But industry groups insist the tribunal is essential to make the system a success

A user-friendly Union-wide patent system could be in place by the end of 2001 under a compromise formula tabled by the French presidency which looks set to be approved by member states.