PROGRESS ON COMMUNITY PATENT UNLIKELY THIS YEAR.

• Position: Brief Article

The Dutch Presidency is not envisaging agreement on the Community Patent, at least not during its tenure. In its priorities for the second half of 2004, the Dutch note the important aim of establishing a better functioning and "uniform EC system of legal protection in patent procedures", so as to "encourage innovation". But they highlight the "continued resistance of a limited number of Member States". Indeed, "the chances of reaching...