THIRD UPC USER FORUM: Questions & Answers

It is with much joy that the Munich IP Dispute Resolution Forum announces its third edition of the UPC User Forum taking place on
Tue., 30 September 2025, at the DPMA Forum.   

In 2023, the UPC User Forum was established as a new format for exchanging experiences and best practices between UPC judges and UPC users.  In that tradition, the Munich IPDR Forum again offers a half-day workshop and get-together reunifying UPC judges and users discussing procedural and material issues of practical significance in an open-minded setting under “Chatham House Rules”.   

The workshop will start with a light lunch at noon, followed by two panel sessions with Q&A, and closing with a reception around 5:30 pm.  

This year’s discussions will follow the trajectory of a UPC case: from filing the complaint, via briefings, the particularities of an interim conference and main hearing in first instance up to a judgment on appeal.  Both from the judges´ and the users´ points of view, among the questions to be contemplated are:  Which measures are, or are not, helping to move a case ahead constructively?  What sort of nuisance work can, and should, be avoided?  And which procedural and material-law issues have come up along the way and may have been resolved or remain unresolve for the time being?  In sum, has the UPC already found its place in the European patent law landscape or how much (more) interaction and harmonization may be desirable?  

 

Moderated by Miriam Kiefer LL.M. and Dr. Thomas Adam 

 

We are delighted that the following UPC judges have confirmed their participation:  

  • Stefan Johansson (Presiding Judge of the Nordic-Baltic Regional Division, LQJ)
  • Petri Rinkinen (Presiding Judge of the Local Division Helsinki, LQJ)

While those topics allow for a broad range of spontaneous comments, to ensure a structured substantive discussion on topics that the UPC users are genuinely interested in, we would ask that you submit your questions in advance. This will allow a sensible degree of preparation and a finer-tailored discussion. Please direct your questions, which the moderators will treat in an anonymized manner, ideally categorized per the following topics, to info@ipdr-forum.org.  

 

  1. Procedure  
    – Competence of the UPC (reach-back damages, computation of FRAND license, long arm jurisdiction)  
    – Course of proceedings (front-loading, equality of means) 
    – Appeal stage  
  2. Interaction and Harmonization  
    – Interaction with national and EPO proceedings  
    – Harmonization with EPO practices (inventive step, original disclosure) 
    – Referrals to CJEU  

We look forward to receiving your questions by 22 August 2025.    

 

 

Agenda:   

12:00 – 13:00: Registration & Light Lunch   

13:00 – 15:00: Welcome and Panel 1  

15:00 – 15:45: Coffee  

15:45 – 17:30: Panel 2  

17:30 Get-Together  

For registration please click here: Eventbrite.