The package of proposals on the EU patent has got the approval of the Legal Affairs Committee at the European Parliament. According to MEPs, the new EU patent would be substantially cheaper and thus more competitive than current ones. If Parliament as a whole and the Council confirm the deal, a new EU patent will be created.

Legal Affairs Committee at the European Parliament backed a political deal struck last 1 December between Parliament and Council negotiators on the so-called "EU patent package" (unitary patent, language regime and unified patent court). The Parliament as a whole and the Council have now to confirm the deal.

MEPs assures that the new patent will be less expensive and more effective than current systems in protecting the inventions of individuals and firms. The new system would provide automatic unitary patent protection and substantially cut costs for EU firms and help boost their competitiveness. The European Commission says that when the new system is up to speed, an EU patent may cost just €680, compared to an average of €1,850 for an American one.

In addition, the package include the creation of an unified patent court through an international agreement currently being negotiated by Member States, will also cut costs and reduce current legal uncertainty due to differing national interpretations.