On February 17, Germany ratified the UPC Agreement, launching the countdown to the beginning of the Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court. Germany’s ratification means that the Agreement will enter into force on 1 June 2023. The Unitary Patent Sunrise Period has already opened and the UPC Sunrise Period will begin on 1 March.

Federal Minister of Justice Dr. Marco Buschmann said in a public statement that, “[a]s of today, innovation protection in Europe is being raised to a new level…[t]his strengthens the future viability and innovative strength in Germany and Europe.”