The EC Green Paper on the Community Patent and the Patent System in Europe

In particular, it has often stressed (see for example its recent policy statement on the reduction of patent costs which is attached) that, for most of the many technology-based companies belonging to the ICC, the cost of obtaining, maintaining and litigating patents is far too high. The lack of harmonization between the world's substantive patent laws, the procedures before patent offices, and the court procedures on litigating patents not only unacceptably and unnecessarily increase the costs to the patentees and third parties but also result in inconsistent decisions on patent infringement and validity from country to country; these weaknesses in the world patent system greatly disturb those in business making world-wide investment decisions on whether to commercialize new technology and, if so, where to do so.

The ICC therefore warmly welcomes the initiative of the Commission of the European Communities (the "Commission") in publishing this Green Paper seeking the views of all interested parties on the future of the European patent system, and the ICC will be participating fully in the current debate on this important subject.