In the UK, draft legislation authorising ratification of the UPC Agreement was included in the Intellectual Property Bill, and yesterday the Bill completed its final stage of its passage through Parliament.  In yesterday’s “Ping Pong” stage, the House of Lords approved the amendments made to the Bill in the House of Commons (such amendments all concerning IP legislation unrelated to the UPC).  The Bill now goes forward to receive Royal Assent and hence be passed into law.  However, it is not expected that the UK will actually ratify the UPC Agreement until shortly before the next General Election in May 2015.