On 1 May 2015, the Dutch government launched an online public consultation as an initial step towards ratification of the Unified Patent Court Agreement. To enable correct implementation of the unitary patent Regulation (EU) 1257/2012 and Unified Patent Court agreement into national law, it is necessary that The Dutch Patents Act 1995 be amended. The consultation will run for three weeks until 25 May 2015. The Dutch government appears keen to progress the legislation promptly in order for The Netherlands to participate in the Unified Patent Court from the projected start in 2016.

Only six countries have fully ratified the UPC Agreement: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Malta, Sweden; Luxembourg has ratified, but is yet to deposit its instrument of ratification. Before the UPC Agreement can enter into force, it must be ratified by 13 countries, of which this number must include Germany and the UK, in addition to France.