McCreevy Slams 'Segmented' European IP Protection Regime

by Ulrika Lomas, for LawAndTax-News.com, Brussels

11 June 2007

Speaking at a recent Cyprus Chamber of Commerce meeting, European Internal Market Commissioner, Charlie McCreevy once again stressed the importance of reforms to the patent system in strengthening Europe's single market.

He told those attending the meeting that: "A market with twenty-seven sets of national IP rules is tailor made to segment markets and limit the rewards to innovation."

Commissioner McCreevy went on to add that "promoting innovation to maintain our global position in the face of tough competition from emerging economies" was one of the top five priorities guiding the single market.

"We are working with governments and businesses across the European Union to secure agreement to a Community patent, which would grant innovators IP protection throughout the single market," he stated, continuing:

"We are also working to establish a unified jurisdictional system for litigating patents in Europe. Such a system should bring more legal certainty. It should also simplify the patent litigation landscape and render the patent system more attractive to users."

Commissioner McCreevy concluded by observing that the central question is "how we remain competitive; how Europe can deliver the new jobs and growth over the long term".

"As the Commission and the European Council have made clear - in our shared Lisbon goals - Europe's future prosperity rests on knowledge and innovation," he argued.

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