Dr Gregory Bacon
Greg Bacon’s extensive scientific background gives him a valuable understanding of technical issues that can underlie IP matters, particularly in the life sciences field. He has advised and represented clients on small molecule pharmaceuticals, biologics (originators and biosimilars), medical devices (hardware and software), as well as in the cosmetics, chemicals, technology, shipping and online publishing sectors.
Greg has represented clients in many cases before both the English High Court (including Patents Court) and Court of Appeal. In addition, Greg has extensive experience of strategic multinational litigation in multiple jurisdictions, including at the EPO, through global pharmaceutical product coordination projects for many clients.
He has also spent time on secondment to the IP litigation department of a leading IP law firm in the Netherlands as well as the UK legal department of a global healthcare IT company, working on non-contentious IP/IT, regulatory and commercial matters.
Greg is a regular contributor to the monthly EPO reports which Bristows produce for the CIPA Journal and writes on UK cases for a number of IP blogs. He is also the editor of our On the Pulse life sciences microsite and one of the editors of our Biotech Review publication which explores key issues and developments in the biotech space, and co-authored the UK chapter of the AIPLA’s International Patent Litigation guide.
Practice Area
Panel
- Contributing Author
Qualified Year
- 2007
Membership
- AIPPI UK
- EPLAW
Qualifications
- Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice (2009)
- DPhil in Neuroscience (2003)
- BA (Hons) Natural Sciences (Neuroscience) (1997)
Education
- University of Oxford (2008-2009)
- University of Oxford (1997-2001)
- University of Cambridge (1994-1997)
2 Contributions by Gregory Bacon
PRACTICE NOTES
EU Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court: history, development, ratification, court structure, jurisdiction and key practitioner issues (opt-outs, fees, bifurcation, forum shopping), including the UK’s withdrawal
ARCHIVED
This Practice Note is archived and is not being maintained.
It outlines the historical context of the EU unitary patent (UP) and the Unified Patent Court (UPC), together with key points on how the patent and the court were intended to operate.
For fuller detail on the UPC’s structure, jurisdiction and competence, and a review of first‑instance and Court of Appeal procedure explaining the UPC Rules of Procedure, see Practice Note: Unified Patent Court—procedure.
The UPC commenced operations on 1 June 2023, following a three‑month sunrise phase that began on 1 April 2023. This came after several setbacks, including the UK’s exit from the EU with its subsequent withdrawal from the system, and the German Federal Constitutional Court’s decision to uphold a complaint against the Unified Patent Court Agreement (UPCA).
Historical background and concepts
As early as the 1950s, the six founding states of what became the EU sought a single patent spanning all their territories. Long known as the Community patent, and now as the UP, this objective proved difficult to realise, although two EU regulations were adopted...
EU Law
PRACTICE NOTES
Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court: structure, jurisdiction, opt-outs, concurrent jurisdiction and litigation procedure from First Instance to Appeal
This Practice Note outlines the unitary patent (UP) and Unified Patent Court (UPC) framework, describing the UPC’s composition, remit and powers in overview. It details the transitional opt-out arrangements currently available during the sunrise period. It also covers procedures in the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal, examining and elucidating the UPC Rules of Procedure in detail and context. The UPC formally commenced operations on 1 June 2023, following a three‑month sunrise phase. This milestone came after several earlier hurdles, notably the UK leaving the EU and later choosing to exit the project itself, and the German Federal Constitutional Court’s ruling upholding an initial challenge to the Unified Patent Court Agreement (UPCA).
Introduction to the unitary patent and Unified Patent Court system
The new system is in two parts, as follows:
a new form of European patent (EP) with unitary effect, commonly also referred to as the UP
a new judiciary, the UPC, for disputes concerning UPs and both upcoming and existing ‘classical’ EPs and their supplementary protection certificates (SPCs)
For further information on the historical background and development of the UP and UPC system, see Practice Note: Unitary patents and the Unified Patent Court—historical background and...
EU Law
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