Intellectual Property/International Law: EU Competitiveness Council of Ministers to Revisit Improved EU Patent System

On November 11, the European Union (EU) Competitiveness Council of Ministers will meet in extraordinary session in Brussels to revisit the issue of an improved EU patent system. Noting that "[o]btaining a patent in Europe currently costs ten times more than in the US," the Council meeting notice indicated that the Council will be considering a draft regulation to ensure that "translation arrangements for the EU patent are cost-effective, simplified and ensure legal certainty." The European Commission has issued a descriptive agenda for the session.