ARTICLE · 31 JANUARY 2024

Market Intelligence Thought Leadership Award Winner

Irish Referendum On Joining The UPC Announced For June 2024

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

Explore more from Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

The Irish Government's Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment announced yesterday (23 January) that the Government has approved a proposal...

IrelandIntellectual Property

Rachel Montagnon

The Irish Government's Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment announced yesterday (23 January) that the Government has approved a proposal to hold a constitutional referendum in June 2024 on Ireland's participation in the Unified Patent Court. The referendum is to be held alongside the European and local elections.

The Government has also approved the priority drafting of a Bill to give effect to the proposed constitutional amendment needed for this in readiness should the result of the referendum be in favour of joining the UPC system, and the press release stated that the Minister hoped to obtain approval for the publication of the Bill and its priority initiation in the Dáil in the coming weeks.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

Related Articles

Cross-border Patent Litigation And The UPC’s Expanding Reach: Implications For Ireland

European UnionIntellectual Property

IP Rights In A Borderless Internet: CJEU Developments On Geo-Blocking, Copyright And Trade Marks

European UnionIntellectual Property

An Exclusive License Does Not Automatically Eliminate A Patent Owner’s Right To Sue

IrelandIntellectual Property

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

Pro = Active? CJEU Asked To Decide

IrelandIntellectual Property

New EU Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation: Key Changes And Practical Implications

IrelandIntellectual Property

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Intellectual Property
- Patent

Related Comparative Guides

Comparative Guide

Trademark Disputes

Comparative Guide

Franchise & Licensing

Comparative Guide

Intellectual Property

Comparative Guide

Patent Litigation

See more popular content from

Intellectual Property

AI Model Training On Trial: Getty Images v Stability AI Decision Explained

In November 2025, the English High Court delivered judgment in Getty Images (US) Inc & Others v Stability AI Ltd EWHC 2863 (Ch).

IrelandIntellectual Property

Ireland's UPC Referendum Likely Delayed Again

Although Ireland signed the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court more than a decade ago, it has yet to ratify it. Ratification requires a referendum...

IrelandIntellectual Property

CJEU Issues Guidance On When Parallel Importers Can Rebrand Generics As Branded Medicines

In a recent decision, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) issued new guidance on when parallel importers can rebrand generic medicines with the original trade mark of the reference medicinal product...

European UnionIntellectual Property

William Fry LLP

CJEU To Rule On AI Chatbots And Copyright In Landmark Case Against Google

A potentially landmark copyright case has been referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), raising, for the first time, the question of how EU copyright law applies...

IrelandIntellectual Property

William Fry LLP

European Commission Withdraws SEP Regulation

Among 35 initiatives the European Commission plans to withdraw is the proposed regulation on Standard Essential Patents (SEPs). Other notable withdrawals are the AI Liability Directive and the ePrivacy Regulation.

European UnionIntellectual Property

William Fry LLP

New EU Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation: Key Changes And Practical Implications

On 16 April 2026, the European Commission adopted a revised Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation (the "Revised TTBER") and Guidelines on the application of Article 101 of the Treaty...

IrelandIntellectual Property

WIPO Release Figures For 2016 PCT Applications

Since inception in 1978, the PCT has risen steadily with 152 contracting states now in participation and over 3.23 million applications filed since its beginning.

GlobalIntellectual Property

Court Of Justice Rules That Hyperlinking Internet Content Is Not Copyright Infringement

In a much anticipated judgment, the Court of Justice of the European Union yesterday in "Svensson v Retriever Sverige AB" held that hyperlinking freely available Internet content on another website does not amount to an unlawful "communication to the public".

European UnionIntellectual Property

Mason Hayes & Curran LLP

Russia Issues Decree Providing For 0% Compensation For The Unauthorised Use Of Certain IP Rights Emanating From "Unfriendly Countries"

In response to the invasion by Russian forces of the Ukraine on 24 February 2022, various countries around the world imposed economic sanctions on Russia. Such sanctions included a US embargo on Russian gas and oil,...

GlobalIntellectual Property

William Fry LLP

EU General Court Finds In Favour Of Monster In Energy Drink Trade Mark Dispute

Unleash the Beast! Monster Energy has successfully invalidated a copycat trade mark registration in the EU for INSOMNIA ENERGY protecting energy drinks. Our Intellectual Property team considers the key takeaways for brand owners.

European UnionIntellectual Property

Mason Hayes & Curran LLP