The IP Federation (which represents the views of UK industry in IP matters) has reported here that its President, James Horgan, wrote to Sam Gyimah MP, the UK minister for intellectual property, yesterday about the UK’s ratification of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) Agreement. Mr Horgan referred to the benefits of the UK participating in the UPC and unitary patent system and emphasised that the IP Federation’s members are keen that the UK should ratify the UPC Agreement as soon as possible. He explained that this would enable negotiations to commence rapidly to secure the legal basis on which the UK can stay in the UPC, and if possible in the unitary patent also, after Brexit for the long term. As reported here, the UK now has all relevant legislation in place to ratify the Agreement, and the next step is for the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) to request the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to do so. In his letter, Mr Horgan states: “We assume you will be working closely with the UK IPO to ensure the FCO is provided with all the material they need so that the Foreign Secretary can sign the instrument of ratification next month.”