Two successful rounds of trainings have now been completed in the context of the preparation for the launch of the Unified Patent Court.

A first training, which took place in Budapest from 17 to 21 January 2023, was dedicated to appointed judges of the Court (see also news here). With the participation of 82 judges, including the Presidium, as well as the newly appointed Registrar and Deputy-Registrar, this intensive five-day event provided an excellent opportunity for a first general meeting and exchange.

The focus of the training - organized in collaboration with the European Patent Academy and with the support of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office- was on the Rules of Procedure (RoP), with panel presentations and group discussions on the common approach of the Court, cooperation among legally and technically qualified judges, and a presentation of the case management system (CMS). Panel speakers included senior judges of the Court with extensive patent experience, as well as senior litigators and members of the RoP Drafting Committee. The last two days of the training took the form of a mock trial.

A further training, focusing on the internal rules and practice of the Court, took place from 31 January until 2 February 2023, also in Budapest. With the participation of around 50 staff members from various divisions of the Court and with functions ranging from clerk, to IT expert, this training provided a solid overview of various procedural rules and of CMS-related proceedings, which were presented by experts and judges of the Court.

Both trainings proved to be a success and marked important milestones on the Roadmap of the Unified Patent Court.

Upcoming trainings will take place at the end of February and early March, focusing on the functioning of the Court’s CMS.