We highlighted in May that the European Software Market Association was challenging the Unitary Patent before the Belgian Constitutional Court. ESOMA in fact believed that the Unitary Patent “violated the Belgian Constitution (by denying) Belgians equality before the law, (by discriminating) on basis of language, (by violating) the separation of powers, and (was) an illegal political maneuver by the European Patent Office”.
However the Court declared on 21 st May 2015 that ESOMA’s request was inadmissible, as it appeared that the claim was filed after the 60 day period within which the Consituational Court could address the constitutionality of Belgian laws. The law allowing the ratification of the UPCA was in fact published in the Moniteur Belge on 09th September 2014 while ESOMA’s request was only filed on 09th March 2015. The Constitutional Court therefore did not have a chance to look into details in ESOMA’s claims and declined to consider the substantial issues allegedly at stake.
After the ECJ decision opposing Spain and the European Commission, this is thus the second decision in favour of the UPC, clearing the way for its planned entry into force in 2016.
The Belgian Constitutional Court decision can be found here.