Short and transparent court procedures make the Regional Court Munich a go-to location to file for patent disputes. According to a recent survey of the German patent community, the so-called Munich procedure has contributed to a heightening in the perception of Munich as an attractive patent location. However, the survey contributors also noted a continued need for improvement in areas such as increasing staffing levels and predictability.

Ten years ago, the Regional Court Munich introduced the Munich Procedure in patent disputes. Now scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition (MPI) have evaluated the process. The MPI asked stakeholders in the patent community about their experiences of the Munich Procedure, with the majority of respondents saying procedure meant Munich had become more attractive as a location.

MPI director Dietmar Harhoff said, “In patent litigation, lawyers appreciate above all predictability and well-founded decisions”. According to Harhoff, the technical competence of the judges as well as the duration of the proceedings also play a major role in the choice of court location.

(Source: Juve Patent)