Keeping pace with the ever-changing life sciences industry, Morrison Foerster stays on top of the trends and political, legal, and economic drivers to support striking the balance between innovative discovery and purposeful business planning to assure our clients continued success. MoFo Life Sciences shares timely legal and business insights and in-depth analyses on trends and the complex technologies at the heart of the global pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostics, medical devices, digital health, and AgTech fields.Learn more about our <a href="https://www.mofo.com/capabilities/life-sciences-healthcare" target="_self">Life Sciences practice</a>.<h2 dir="ltr">ABOUT MORRISON FOERSTER</h2>Morrison Foerster is a leading global law firm that transforms complexity into advantage for its clients. Our clients include some of the largest financial institutions, banks, consulting and accounting firms, and Fortune 100, technology, and life sciences companies. Highlighting the firm’s commitment to client service, leadership in market-changing deals and impact litigation, and values-based culture, Morrison Foerster has been repeatedly recognized as one of the top 10 firms on The American Lawyer’s A-List. Year after year, the firm receives significant recognition from Chambers and The Legal 500 across their various guides, including Global, USA, Asia‑Pacific, Europe, UK, Latin America, and FinTech Legal. Our lawyers passionately care about delivering legal excellence while living our values. Morrison Foerster has a long-standing commitment to creating a culture that respects and celebrates differences, while providing an inclusive environment. The firm has achieved Mansfield Certification Plus since 2018 as a result of successfully reaching at least 30 percent women, communities of color, and LGBTQ+ lawyer representation in a notable number of current leadership roles and committees. The firm also has a long history of commitment to the community and society through providing pro bono legal services, including litigating for civil rights and civil liberties, improving public education and fostering the wellbeing of children, advocating for veterans, promoting international human rights, enforcing the right to asylum, and safeguarding the environment.

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Dr. Meghan Poon counsels clients on patent preparation and prosecution, portfolio strategy, and IP due diligence in the areas of biotechnology and biologics. She has significant experience in diverse technologies including antibodies, cell therapies, gene therapies, diagnostics, and gene-edited plants. She represents clients ranging from large international pharmaceutical companies to midsized companies, startups, and universities.Meghan has filed numerous Patent Term Extension applications to secure additional term for her clients’ patents, which cover FDA-approved products. In addition, Meghan has extensive experience addressing complex obviousness-double patenting and subject matter eligibility issues impacting her clients’ patent portfolios. Meghan also represents clients in both investor-side and target-side due diligence, in deals from seed funding to initial public offerings.Prior to law school, Meghan attended graduate school at the University of California, Los Angeles, where she received a Ph.D. in biological chemistry based on her work on protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions at a molecular level. Meghan is the author of several scientific publications and has presented her research at international conferences.Meghan received her J.D. from the University of Southern California Law School and spent a year as a visiting student at Santa Clara University, where she focused on intellectual property.

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Dr. Meghan Poon counsels clients on patent preparation and prosecution, portfolio strategy, and IP due diligence in the areas of biotechnology and biologics. She has significant experience in diverse technologies including antibodies, cell therapies, gene therapies, diagnostics, and gene-edited plants.

Meghan Poon

Wolfgang advises clients on contentious and non-contentious matters involving their most valuable intellectual property assets in life sciences, digital, and high-tech industries.His subjects of focus include research and development collaborations, complex licensing agreements, and other technology transactions, as well as know-how protection strategies, and employee invention law. He also has substantial experience in litigating patents, trademarks, and other intellectual property assets, often in a multijurisdictional context. In addition, Wolfgang and his team frequently clear trademarks and ad campaigns and prosecute trademark applications.Wolfgang is co-editor of our <a href="https://lifesciences.mofo.com/" dir="ltr" target="_blank">MoFo Life Sciences Blog</a>.Wolfgang is a partner of Morrison Foerster based in our German office in Berlin.<h4 dir="ltr">Representative Transactional Matters</h4><ul dir="ltr"><li>U.S.-based BioTech fund on various research collaborations and other transactions with German start-ups or research institutions.</li><li>Negotiate multimillion-euro strategic partnership between two AgTech leaders concerning the development and commercialization of pest-resistant transgenic traits.</li><li>Craft global multi-million collaboration regarding AI-powered robotic MaaS.</li><li>UK-based digital health company on product roll-out of RPM applications in Germany; coordinate international expansion.</li><li>Advise numerous German start-ups on their U.S. expansion.</li><li>Draft diverse global patent and know-how license agreements in the areas of AgTech and life sciences—including gene licensing and licensing of genome editing technologies (e.g., CRISPR)—and medical devices; draft correlating supply and distribution agreements.</li><li>Structure IP rights in connection with joint ventures and other M&A transactions, including the carve-out of a patent-heavy semiconductor business comprising nine jurisdictions into a German–U.S. joint venture.</li><li dir="ltr">Advise on government-funded, multi-partner R&D projects and/or R&D projects with academic institutions, as well as on employee invention law.</li></ul><h4 dir="ltr">Representative Contentious IP Matters</h4><ul dir="ltr"><li>Lead counsel in an international dispute between software companies on rights and obligations following termination of a multi-million licensing and distribution arrangement; coordinate local counsel.</li><li>Defend Japanese chip manufacturer in high-profile SEP-litigation; advise on global settlement arrangement.</li><li>Represent leading internet retailer in patent infringement and concurrent invalidity proceedings in the context of a multijurisdictional dispute concerning touch-screen technology.</li><li>Represent diverse pharmaceutical and life sciences companies in national and cross-border patent infringement proceedings and other technology-related disputes, including preliminary injunctions as well as pre‑trial discovery and inspection proceedings, concerning, inter alia, drug-coating technologies, toner cartridges, medicinal gases, transgenic plants, and vaccines.</li><li dir="ltr">Conduct trademark, copyright, and false advertising litigation, including, most notably, a high-profile trademark litigation for a German bank, and a nine-country cross-border trademark litigation involving a famous pharmaceutical brand.</li></ul>

Dr. Wolfgang Schönig berät Mandanten zum Schutz des geistigen Eigentums sowohl in streitigen als auch nichtstreitigen Angelegenheiten, mit einem besonderen Fokus auf die IP-rechtliche Beratung von Unternehmen aus den Bereichen Life Sciences, Digitalwirtschaft und High-Tech.Zu seinen Beratungsschwerpunkten gehören Forschungs- und Entwicklungskooperationen, komplexe Lizenzvertragsgestaltungen und andereTechnologie-Transaktionen, sowie Know-how-Schutz-Strategien und das Arbeitnehmererfinderrecht. Er verfügt zudem über umfangreiche Prozesserfahrung zur Durchsetzung von Patenten, Marken- und anderen IP-Rechten, häufig auch in einem grenzüberschreitenden Kontext. Darüber hinaus bewertet Dr. Wolfgang Schönig zusammen mit seinem Team regelmäßig die Rechtskonformität von Werbekampagnen, prüft die Verfügbarkeit von Marken und entwickelt entsprechende Anmeldestrategien.Dr. Wolfgang Schönig ist Co-Editor des Life Sciences Blogs von Morrison Foerster.Er hat seinen Doktortitel an der Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf und seinen LL.M. an der Fordham School of Law in New York erworben, jeweils mit Schwerpunkt im gewerblichen Rechtsschutz. Seinen MBA-Abschluss erhielt er von der European University in Barcelona.Dr. Wolfgang Schönig ist Partner des deutschen Büros von Morrison Foerster in Berlin.<h4 dir="ltr">Repräsentative Transaktionen</h4><ul><li dir="ltr">BioTech-Fonds mit Sitz in den USA bei verschiedenen Forschungskooperationen und anderen Transaktionen mit deutschen Start-ups oder Forschungseinrichtungen</li><li dir="ltr">Verhandlung einer hochvolumigen strategischen Partnerschaft zwischen zwei Technologieführern im Bereich Crop Science betreffend der Entwicklung und Kommerzialisierung von bestimmten Resistenzen</li><li dir="ltr">Gestaltung einer globalen Multi-Millionen-Zusammenarbeit für KI-gestützte Roboter</li><li dir="ltr">Ein in Großbritannien ansässiges Unternehmen für digitale Gesundheit bei der Markteinführung von RPM-Anwendungen in Deutschland; Koordination der internationalen Expansion</li><li dir="ltr">Beratung zahlreicher deutscher Start-ups bei deren US-Expansion</li><li dir="ltr">Strukturierung und Verhandlung diverser Patent- und Know-How-Lizenzen in den Bereichen Ag Tech und Life Sciences – einschließlich Fragen zu genome editing wie CRISPR-Medizingeräte, sowie Gestaltung von Softwarelizenzverträgen und Erstellung korrespondierender Liefer- und Vertriebsvereinbarungen</li><li dir="ltr">Strukturierung von IP-Rechten im Zusammenhang mit Joint Ventures und anderen M&A-Transaktionen, darunter die Koordination eines neun Länder umfassenden IP Carve-Outs im Rahmen eines Halbleiter-JVs</li><li dir="ltr">Beratung zu staatlich geförderten Multi-Partner F&E-Projekten und/oder F&E-Projekten mit akademischen Einrichtungen sowie zum Arbeitnehmererfindungsrecht</li></ul><h4 dir="ltr">Repräsentative IP-Streitigkeiten</h4><ul><li dir="ltr">Lead Counsel in einem internationalen Rechtsstreit zwischen Softwareunternehmen über Rechte und Pflichten nach Beendigung einer millionenschweren Lizenz- und Vertriebsvereinbarung; Koordinierung der lokalen Anwälte</li><li dir="ltr">Verteidigung eines japanischen Chipherstellers in einem prominenten Streitfall bezüglich Standardessentieller Patente (SEP); Beratung zu einer globalen Vergleichsregelung</li><li dir="ltr">Verteidigung einer führenden Internetplattform gegen Ansprüche eines Patenttrolls wegen vermeintlicher Verletzung von Patent bezüglich Touchscreen-Technologie sowie korrespondierende US-Streitigkeiten</li><li dir="ltr">Vertretung von Pharma- und Life Science-Unternehmen in nationalen und grenzüberschreitenden Patentverletzungsverfahren und anderen technologiebezogenen Streitigkeiten, einschließlich einstweiliger Verfügungsverfahren und vorprozessualer Beweissicherungs- und Besichtigungsverfahren, unter anderem in Bezug auf Arzneimittelbeschichtungstechnologien, Tonerkartuschen, medizinische Gase, transgene Pflanzen und Impfstoffe</li></ul>

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Wolfgang Schönig is a partner of Morrison Foerster (International) LLP based in our German office in Berlin. His practice specialty is advising on IP aspects relative to transactions in, among others, the life sciences, AgTech and pharmaceuticals industry, as well as legal representation in IP disputes. Wolfgang is specialized in research and development collaborations, complex licensing agreements, technology acquisitions, know-how protection strategies, and employee invention law.

Wolfgang Schönig focuses his practice on IP aspects relative to transactions in the digital, telecoms, high tech, life sciences, and pharmaceuticals industry, as well as legal representation in IP disputes.

Wolfgang Schönig advises clients on IP aspects relating to transactions in, among others, the life sciences, AgTech and pharmaceuticals industry, as well as legal representation in IP disputes. His additional focus areas include research and development collaborations, complex licensing agreements, technology acquisitions, know-how protection strategies, and employee invention law.

Wolfgang Schönig

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After a myriad of challenges, delays, and hurdles, the setting up of the pan-European patent court, the Unified Patent Court (UPC), is finally gaining traction.

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A Long Courtship for Unity – As Europe’s Unitary Patent System Is Going Live Soon, Consultations About a Unitary Supplementary Protection Certificate Gain Momentum

A Long Courtship for Unity – As Europe’s Unitary Patent System Is Going Live Soon, Consultations About a Unitary Supplementary Protection Certificate Gain Momentum | MoFo Life Sciences

After a myriad of <a href="https://www.mofo.com/resources/insights/200334-europes-unified-patent-court.html?utm_source=publication&utm_medium=email" target="_blank">challenges</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/unified-patent-courtunexpected-roadblocks-ahead-germany-sch%C3%B6nig/" target="_blank">delays</a>, and hurdles, the setting up of the pan-European patent court, the Unified Patent Court (UPC), is finally gaining traction. On January 19, 2022, the UPC came into existence as an international organization. This date marks the beginning of the Provisional Application Period (PAP), which was triggered by the thirteenth member state’s ratification of the PAP Protocol. The Administrative Committee, one of three governing bodies of the UPC, had no time to lose and took up its preparatory work with an <a href="https://www.unified-patent-court.org/news/announcement-unified-patent-court-administrative-committees-inaugural-meeting" target="_blank">inaugural meeting</a> on February 22, 2022.  Since then, preparatory measures seem to be in full swing. The interview process for candidate judges began at the end of March 2022. As soon as the Court will be deemed functional, which is expected to take about eight months of preparations, Germany will deposit its ratification of the Unified Patent Court Agreement (UPCA), a final step which it is – in agreement with the other member states – currently holding back in order to control the timeline.  From that moment, the final countdown of three months will be initiated until the UPCA will enter into force and the UPC will open its doors.With the UPC having reached the home stretch, Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs) have come into the limelight as the fundamental area of intellectual property (IP) protection that remains fragmented among the member states.SPCs are sui generis IP rights. They grant up to five years (and in cases of pediatric extensions, five and one half years) of additional protection for a medicinal or veterinary product or a plant protection product that has gained market authorization. SPCs were introduced to offset the lengthy process of regulatory proceedings. Protection is based on EU regulation No. 1610/96 (concerning SPCs for plant protection products) and No. 469/2009 (concerning SPCs for medicinal products) (“SPC Regulations”) and is available in all EU member states. However, application and approval is handled on the member state level.  This remained the same despite the advent of the European Patent Package, which introduced the Unitary Patent (UP) and the UPC, but did not provide for unitary SPCs.[The European Patent Package introduced the Unitary Patent (UP), a single patent having effect in all participating EU member states, and the Unified Patent Court (UPC), a court system having jurisdiction over UPs with its decisions having effect in all participating member states.]As a consequence, UPs can only be extended by national SPCs.During an evaluation in 2020, the <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/43847" target="_blank">European Commission (EC) found</a> that the SPC system in general provides effective incentives for innovations, and the EC ascertained that the main shortcomings are rooted in the national administration and management of SPCs. Therefore, the EU Parliament called on the EC to address this SPC fragmentation. In the course of its legislative work, the EC has launched a so-called “Call for Evidence” to gather feedback on how to tackle that issue. The Call for Evidence brings up three topics for discussion:a) The baseline scenario with no policy change. The SPC system would continue to operate on the basis of existing EU and national rules. Member states might continue in an uncoordinated manner to recalibrate their SPC practices, with different approaches persisting across the single market.b) Non-legislative instruments, including guidelines based on the best practices of national patent offices and the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), aimed at further harmonizing the current SPC system.c) Legislative changes, which would possibly be combined with non-legislative changes, including:1) Creation of a centralized system for SPC protection in the EU, with a view to reducing the cost and burden and making the procedure for granting SPCs more predictable. A centralized system would facilitate the setting up of standardized, common, and publicly available digital databases. This centralized system could consist of: (i) a unitary SPC, complementing the future unitary patent; (ii) a unified procedure for granting bundles of national SPCs, without creating a unitary SPC; or (iii) a combination of the two. The detailed features of a centralized SPC system will be assessed in an impact assessment (e.g., an examining and granting authority (a virtual authority comprising SPC experts from Member States, or an EU authority), language arrangements (English-only or multilingual), and judicial review); and2) Targeted amendments of the SPC Regulations on the basis of the best practices of national patent offices and CJEU case law aimed at further harmonizing the current SPC system.The Call for Evidence is open for feedback until April 5, 2022. Any members of the public may provide their feedback and comments. Submissions will be published <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13353-Medicinal-&-plant-protection-products-single-procedure-for-the-granting-of-SPCs_en">here</a>.Meanwhile, the UPC committees will continue their preparatory work. A fully operational UPC is expected to open its doors in early 2023, if not in late 2022. From that moment, a seven-year transitional period, during which patent holders may opt out of the exclusive jurisdiction of the UPC, will kick off. It is crucial for holders and applicants of UPs to make well-balanced decisions and keep an eye on the UPC strategies of other market participants.On the one hand, the exclusive jurisdiction of the UPC comes with the advantage of a cost-effective litigation system. To participate in the UPC could be seen as an opportunity to shape this new system. On the other hand, being at the mercy of a newly set up court might be daunting, as outcomes could be perceived as less predictable than in the more familiar systems. This might particularly be the case in light of the fact that a declaration of invalidity would stretch to all participating member states.Therefore, the right strategy can only be tailored in view of the risks or strengths attached to specific patent portfolio and its market environment. Owners and applicants should use the home stretch of the UPC to become familiar with the UPC system and its procedures and get advice on UPC strategy, where needed.

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