Following our previous news item in 2014, we can report that further progress has been made on the professional representatives’ draft Code of Conduct. The Working Group, comprising members of the Preparatory Committee and its Expert Panel, plus representatives of the European Patent Lawyers Association (EPLAW), Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office (epi) and European Patent Litigators Association (EPLit), has been reviewing member states’ national codes of conduct with a view towards publishing a harmonised UPC Code of Conduct, which will be binding on all professional representatives from any member state appearing before the Unified Patent Court.  It is envisaged that the Code will cover areas such as the professional representative’s application process, professional conduct rules, privileged information and witnesses.

It is expected that the draft Code of Conduct will be deliberated at a Preparatory Committee Expert Panel in September 2015.