What tasks have been entrusted to the EPO by the 25 Member States participating in enhanced co operation on the Unitary Patent?

Under EU Regulation No 1257/2012 on the creation of Unitary Patent protection, the participating Member States have entrusted the EPO with the following tasks:

• receiving and examining requests for unitary effect
• registering unitary effect
• publishing translations during the transitional period
• setting up and maintaining a new "Register for unitary patent protection" containing, in particular, entries on transfer, licensing, lapse, limitation or revocation of Unitary Patents
• collecting annual renewal fees for Unitary Patents
• distributing a share of the annual renewal fees to the participating Member States
• administering the compensation scheme to support certain applicants (see also "Are there any reductions for small entities, such as SMEs, start-ups and universities?").

EPO decisions on Unitary Patents are taken by a new "Unitary Patent Division" set up under Article 143(2) EPC. Decisions of the Unitary Patent Division can be appealed to the Unified Patent Court.