Resolução da Assembleia da República n.º 108/2015 — Aprova o Acordo Relativo ao Tribunal Unificado de Patentes, assinado em Bruxelas, em 19 de fevereiro de 2013

2 - The injured party shall, to the extent possible, be placed in the position it would have been in if no infringement had taken place. The infringer shall not benefit from the infringement. However, damages shall not be punitive.

3 - When the Court sets the damages:

(a) It shall take into account all appropriate aspects, such as the negative economic consequences, including lost profits, which the injured party has suffered, any unfair profits made by the infringer and, in appropriate cases, elements other than economic factors, such as the moral prejudice caused to the injured party by the infringement; or

(b) As an alternative to point (a), it may, in appropriate cases, set the damages as a lump sum on the basis of elements such as at least the amount of the royalties or fees which would have been due if the infringer had requested authorisation to use the patent in question.

4 - Where the infringer did not knowingly, or with reasonable grounds to know, engage in the infringing activity, the Court may order the recovery of profits or the payment of compensation.

Article 69

Legal costs

1 - Reasonable and proportionate legal costs and other expenses incurred by the successful party shall, as a general rule, be borne by the unsuccessful party, unless equity requires otherwise, up to a ceiling set in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.

2 - Where a party succeeds only in part or in exceptional circumstances, the Court may order that costs be apportioned equitably or that the parties bear their own costs.

3 - A party should bear any unnecessary costs it has caused the Court or another party.

4 - At the request of the defendant, the Court may order the applicant to provide adequate security for the legal costs and other expenses incurred by the defendant which the applicant may be liable to bear, in particular in the cases referred to in articles 59 to 62.

Article 70

Court fees

1 - Parties to proceedings before the Court shall pay court fees.

2 - Court fees shall be paid in advance, unless the Rules of Procedure provide otherwise. Any party which has not paid a prescribed court fee may be excluded from further participation in the proceedings.

Article 71

Legal aid

1 - A party who is a natural person and who is unable to meet the costs of the proceedings, either wholly or in part, may at any time apply for legal aid. The conditions for granting of legal aid shall be laid down in the Rules of Procedure.

2 - The Court shall decide whether legal aid should be granted in full or in part, or whether it should be refused, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.

3 - On a proposal from the Court, the Administrative Committee shall set the level of legal aid and the rules on bearing the costs thereof.

Article 72

Period of limitation

Without prejudice to article 24(2) and (3), actions relating to all forms of financial compensation may not be brought more than five years after the date on which the applicant became aware, or had reasonable grounds to become aware, of the last fact justifying the action.

CHAPTER V

Appeals

Article 73

Appeal

1 - An appeal against a decision of the Court of First Instance may be brought before the Court of Appeal by any party which has been unsuccessful, in whole or in part, in its submissions, within two months of the date of the notification of the decision.

2 - An appeal against an order of the Court of First Instance may be brought before the Court of Appeal by any party which has been unsuccessful, in whole or in part, in its submissions:

(a) For the orders referred to in articles 49(5), 59 to 62 and 67 within 15 calendar days of the notification of the order to the applicant;

(b) For other orders than the orders referred to in point (a):

(i) Together with the appeal against the decision; or

(ii) Where the Court grants leave to appeal, within 15 days of the notification of the Court's decision to that effect.

3 - The appeal against a decision or an order of the Court of First Instance may be based on points of law and matters of fact.

4 - New facts and new evidence may only be introduced in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and where the submission thereof by the party concerned could not reasonably have been expected during proceedings before the Court of First Instance.

Article 74

Effects of an appeal

1 - An appeal shall not have suspensive effect unless the Court of Appeal decides otherwise at the motivated request of one of the parties. The Rules of Procedure shall guarantee that such a decision is taken without delay.

2 - Notwithstanding paragraph 1, an appeal against a decision on actions or counterclaims for revocation and on actions based on article 32(1)(i) shall always have suspensive effect.

3 - An appeal against an order referred to in articles 49(5), 59 to 62 or 67 shall not prevent the continuation of the main proceedings. However, the Court of First Instance shall not give a decision in the main proceedings before the decision of the Court of Appeal concerning an appealed order has been given.

Article 75

Decision on appeal and referral back

1 - If an appeal pursuant to article 73 is well-founded, the Court of Appeal shall revoke the decision of the Court of First Instance and give a final decision. The Court of Appeal may in exceptional cases and in accordance with the Rules of Procedure refer the case back to the Court of First Instance for decision.

2 - Where a case is referred back to the Court of First Instance pursuant to paragraph 1, the Court of First Instance shall be bound by the decision of the Court of Appeal on points of law.

CHAPTER VI

Decisions

Article 76

Basis for decisions and right to be heard

1 - The Court shall decide in accordance with the requests submitted by the parties and shall not award more than is requested.

2 - Decisions on the merits may only be based on grounds, facts and evidence, which were submitted by the parties or introduced into the procedure by an order of the Court and on which the parties have had an opportunity to present their comments.

3 - The Court shall evaluate evidence freely and independently.

Article 77

Formal requirements

1 - Decisions and orders of the Court shall be reasoned and shall be given in writing in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.

2 - Decisions and orders of the Court shall be delivered in the language of proceedings.

Article 78

Decisions of the Court and dissenting opinions

1 - Decisions and orders of the Court shall be taken by a majority of the panel, in accordance with the Statute. In case of equal votes, the vote of the presiding judge shall prevail.

2 - In exceptional circumstances, any judge of the panel may express a dissenting opinion separately from the decision of the Court.

Article 79

Settlement

The parties may, at any time in the course of proceedings, conclude their case by way of settlement, which shall be confirmed by a decision of the Court. A patent may not be revoked or limited by way of settlement.

Article 80

Publication of decisions

The Court may order, at the request of the applicant and at the expense of the infringer, appropriate measures for the dissemination of information concerning the Court's decision, including displaying the decision and publishing it in full or in part in public media.

Article 81

Rehearing

1 - A request for rehearing after a final decision of the Court may exceptionally be granted by the Court of Appeal in the following circumstances:

(a) On discovery of a fact by the party requesting the rehearing, which is of such a nature as to be a decisive factor and which, when the decision was given, was unknown to the party requesting the rehearing; such request may only be granted on the basis of an act which was held, by a final decision of a national court, to constitute a criminal offence; or

(b) In the event of a fundamental procedural defect, in particular when a defendant who did not appear before the Court was not served with the document initiating the proceedings or an equivalent document in sufficient time and in such a way as to enable him to arrange for the defence.

2 - A request for a rehearing shall be filed within 10 years of the date of the decision but not later than two months from the date of the discovery of the new fact or of the procedural defect. Such request shall not have suspensive effect unless the Court of Appeal decides otherwise.

3 - If the request for a rehearing is well-founded, the Court of Appeal shall set aside, in whole or in part, the decision under review and re-open the proceedings for a new trial and decision, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.

4 - Persons using patents which are the subject-matter of a decision under review and who act in good faith should be allowed to continue using such patents.

Article 82

Enforcement of decisions and orders

1 - Decisions and orders of the Court shall be enforceable in any Contracting Member State. An order for the enforcement of a decision shall be appended to the decision by the Court.

2 - Where appropriate, the enforcement of a decision may be subject to the provision of security or an equivalent assurance to ensure compensation for any damage suffered, in particular in the case of injunctions.

3 - Without prejudice to this Agreement and the Statute, enforcement procedures shall be governed by the law of the Contracting Member State where the enforcement takes place. Any decision of the Court shall be enforced under the same conditions as a decision given in the Contracting Member State where the enforcement takes place.

4 - If a party does not comply with the terms of an order of the Court, that party may be sanctioned with a recurring penalty payment payable to the Court. The individual penalty shall be proportionate to the importance of the order to be enforced and shall be without prejudice to the party's right to claim damages or security.

PART IV

Transitional Provisions

Article 83

Transitional regime

1 - During a transitional period of seven years after the date of entry into force of this Agreement, an action for infringement or for revocation of a European patent or an action for infringement or for declaration of invalidity of a supplementary protection certificate issued for a product protected by a European patent may still be brought before national courts or other competent national authorities.

2 - An action pending before a national court at the end of the transitional period shall not be affected by the expiry of this period.

3 - Unless an action has already been brought before the Court, a proprietor of or an applicant for a European patent granted or applied for prior to the end of the transitional period under paragraph 1 and, where applicable, paragraph 5, as well as a holder of a supplementary protection certificate issued for a product protected by a European patent, shall have the possibility to opt out from the exclusive competence of the Court. To this end they shall notify their opt-out to the Registry by the latest one month before expiry of the transitional period. The opt-out shall take effect upon its entry into the register.

4 - Unless an action has already been brought before a national court, proprietors of or applicants for European patents or holders of supplementary protection certificates issued for a product protected by a European patent who made use of the opt-out in accordance with paragraph 3 shall be entitled to withdraw their opt-out at any moment. In this event they shall notify the Registry accordingly. The withdrawal of the opt-out shall take effect upon its entry into the register.

5 - Five years after the entry into force of this Agreement, the Administrative Committee shall carry out a broad consultation with the users of the patent system and a survey on the number of European patents and supplementary protection certificates issued for products protected by European patents with respect to which actions for infringement or for revocation or declaration of invalidity are still brought before the national courts pursuant to paragraph 1, the reasons for this and the implications thereof. On the basis of this consultation and an opinion of the Court, the Administrative Committee may decide to prolong the transitional period by up to seven years.

PART V

Final Provisions

Article 84

Signature, ratification and accession

1 - This Agreement shall be open for signature by any Member State on 19 February 2013.

2 - This Agreement shall be subject to ratification in accordance with the respective constitutional requirements of the Member States. Instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union (hereinafter referred to as «the depositary»).

3 - Each Member State having signed this Agreement shall notify the European Commission of its ratification of the Agreement at the time of the deposit of its ratification instrument pursuant to Article 18(3) of Regulation (EU) No 1257/2012.

4 - This Agreement shall be open to accession by any Member State. Instruments of accession shall be deposited with the depositary.

Article 85

Functions of the depositary

1 - The depositary shall draw up certified true copies of this Agreement and shall transmit them to the governments of all signatory or acceding Member States.

2 - The depositary shall notify the governments of the signatory or acceding Member States of:

(a) Any signature;

(b) The deposit of any instrument of ratification or accession;

(c) The date of entry into force of this Agreement.

3 - The depositary shall register this Agreement with the Secretariat of the United Nations.

Article 86

Duration of the Agreement

This Agreement shall be of unlimited duration.

Article 87

Revision

1 - Either seven years after the entry into force of this Agreement or once 2000 infringement cases have been decided by the Court, whichever is the later point in time, and if necessary at regular intervals thereafter, a broad consultation with the users of the patent system shall be carried out by the Administrative Committee on the functioning, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the Court and on the trust and confidence of users of the patent system in the quality of the Court's decisions. On the basis of this consultation and an opinion of the Court, the Administrative Committee may decide to revise this Agreement with a view to improving the functioning of the Court.

2 - The Administrative Committee may amend this Agreement to bring it into line with an international treaty relating to patents or Union law.

3 - A decision of the Administrative Committee taken on the basis of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not take effect if a Contracting Member State declares within twelve months of the date of the decision, on the basis of its relevant internal decision-making procedures, that it does not wish to be bound by the decision. In this case, a Review Conference of the Contracting Member States shall be convened.

Article 88

Languages of the Agreement

1 - This Agreement is drawn up in a single original in the english, french and german languages, each text being equally authentic.

2 - The texts of this Agreement drawn up in official languages of Contracting Member States other than those specified in paragraph 1 shall, if they have been approved by the Administrative Committee, be considered as official texts. In the event of divergences between the various texts, the texts referred to in paragraph 1 shall prevail.

Article 89

Entry into force

1 - This Agreement shall enter into force on 1 January 2014 or on the first day of the fourth month after the deposit of the thirteenth instrument of ratification or accession in accordance with article 84, including the three Member States in which the highest number of European patents had effect in the year preceding the year in which the signature of the Agreement takes place or on the first day of the fourth month after the date of entry into force of the amendments to Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012 concerning its relationship with this Agreement, whichever is the latest.

2 - Any ratification or accession after the entry into force of this Agreement shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month after the deposit of the instrument of ratification or accession.

(1) Regulation (EU) No 1257/2012, of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 17 December 2012, implementing enhanced cooperation in the area of the creation of unitary patent protection (OJEU, L 361, 31.12.2012, p. 1) including any subsequent amendments.

(2) Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012, of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 12 December 2012, on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (OJEU, L 351, 20.12.2012, p. 1), including any subsequent amendments.

(3) Regulation (EC) No 469/2009, of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 6 May 2009, concerning the supplementary protection certificate for medicinal products (OJEU, L 152, 16.6.2009, p. 1), including any subsequent amendments.

(4) Regulation (EC) No 1610/96, of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 23 July 1996, concerning the creation of a supplementary certificate for plant protection products (OJEC, L 198, 8.8.1996, p. 30), including any subsequent amendments.

(5) Regulation (EC) No 593/2008, of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 17 June 2008, on the law applicable to contractual obligations (Rome I) (OJEU, L 177, 4.7.2008, p. 6), including any subsequent amendments.

(6) Regulation (EC) No 864/2007, of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 11 July 2007, on the law applicable to non-contractual obligations (Rome II) (OJEU, L 199, 31.7.2007, p. 40), including any subsequent amendments.

(7) Council Regulation (EU) No 1260/2012, of 17 December 2012, implementing enhanced cooperation in the area of the creation of unitary patent protection with regard to the applicable translation arrangements (OJEU, L 361, 31.12.2012, p. 89), including any subsequent amendments.

(8) Directive 2001/82/EC, of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 6 November 2001, on the Community code relating to veterinary medicinal products (OJEC, L 311, 28.11.2001, p. 1), including any subsequent amendments.

(9) Directive 2001/83/EC, of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 6 November 2001, on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use (OJEC, L 311, 28.11.2001, p. 67), including any subsequent amendments.

(10) International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), «Chicago Convention», Document 7300/9 (9th edition, 2006).

(11) Council Regulation (EC) No 2100/94, of 27 July 1994, on Community plant variety rights (OJEC, L 227, 1.9.1994, p. 1), including any subsequent amendments.

(12) Directive 2009/24/EC, of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 23 April 2009, on the legal protection of computer programs (OJEU, L 111, 05/05/2009, p. 16), including any subsequent amendments.

(13) Directive 98/44/EC, of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 6 July 1998, on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions (OJEC, L 213, 30.7.1998, p. 13), including any subsequent amendments.

(14) Convention on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters, done at Lugano on 30 October 2007, including any subsequent amendments.

In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Agreement.

Done at Brussels on 19 February 2013 in english, french and german, all three texts being equally authentic, in a single copy which shall be deposited in the archives of the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union.

([ver documento original](https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2015/08/15200/0541605463.pdf))

ANNEX I

Statute of the Unified Patent Court

Article 1

Scope of the Statute

This Statute contains institutional and financial arrangements for the Unified Patent Court as established under article 1 of the Agreement.

CHAPTER I

Judges

Article 2

Eligibility of judges

1 - Any person who is a national of a Contracting Member State and fulfils the conditions set out in article 15 of the Agreement and in this Statute may be appointed as a judge.

2 - Judges shall have a good command of at least one official language of the European Patent Office.

3 - Experience with patent litigation which has to be proven for the appointment pursuant to article 15(1) of the Agreement may be acquired by training under article 11(4)(a) of this Statute.

Article 3

Appointment of judges

1 - Judges shall be appointed pursuant to the procedure set out in article 16 of the Agreement.

2 - Vacancies shall be publicly advertised and shall indicate the relevant eligibility criteria as set out in article 2. The Advisory Committee shall give an opinion on candidates' suitability to perform the duties of a judge of the Court. The opinion shall comprise a list of most suitable candidates. The list shall contain at least twice as many candidates as there are vacancies. Where necessary, the Advisory Committee may recommend that, prior to the decision on the appointment, a candidate judge receive training in patent litigation pursuant to article 11(4)(a).

3 - When appointing judges, the Administrative Committee shall ensure the best legal and technical expertise and a balanced composition of the Court on as broad a geographical basis as possible among nationals of the Contracting Member States.

4 - The Administrative Committee shall appoint as many judges as are needed for the proper functioning of the Court. The Administrative Committee shall initially appoint the necessary number of judges for setting up at least one panel in each of the divisions of the Court of First Instance and at least two panels in the Court of Appeal.

5 - The decision of the Administrative Committee appointing full-time or part-time legally qualified judges and full-time technically qualified judges shall state the instance of the Court and/or the division of the Court of First Instance for which each judge is appointed and the field(s) of technology for which a technically qualified judge is appointed.

6 - Part-time technically qualified judges shall be appointed as judges of the Court and shall be included in the Pool of Judges on the basis of their specific qualifications and experience. The appointment of these judges to the Court shall ensure that all fields of technology are covered.

Article 4

Judges' term of office

1 - Judges shall be appointed for a term of six years, beginning on the date laid down in the instrument of appointment. They may be re-appointed.

2 - In the absence of any provision regarding the date, the term shall begin on the date of the instrument of appointment.

Article 5

Appointment of the members of the Advisory Committee

1 - Each Contracting Member State shall propose a member of the Advisory Committee who fulfils the requirements set out in article 14(2) of the Agreement.

2 - The members of the Advisory Committee shall be appointed by the Administrative Committee acting by common accord.

Article 6

Oath

Before taking up their duties judges shall, in open court, take an oath to perform their duties impartially and conscientiously and to preserve the secrecy of the deliberations of the Court.

Article 7

Impartiality

1 - Immediately after taking their oath, judges shall sign a declaration by which they solemnly undertake that, both during and after their term of office, they shall respect the obligations arising therefrom, in particular the duty to behave with integrity and discretion as regards the acceptance, after they have ceased to hold office, of certain appointments or benefits.

2 - Judges may not take part in the proceedings of a case in which they:

(a) Have taken part as adviser;

(b) Have been a party or have acted for one of the parties;

(c) Have been called upon to pronounce as a member of a court, tribunal, board of appeal, arbitration or mediation panel, a commission of inquiry or in any other capacity;

(d) Have a personal or financial interest in the case or in relation to one of the parties; or

(e) Are related to one of the parties or the representatives of the parties by family ties.

3 - If, for some special reason, a judge considers that he or she should not take part in the judgement or examination of a particular case, that judge shall so inform the President of the Court of Appeal accordingly or, in the case of judges of the Court of First Instance, the President of the Court of First Instance. If, for some special reason, the President of the Court of Appeal or, in the case of judges of the Court of First Instance, the President of the Court of First Instance considers that a judge should not sit or make submissions in a particular case, the President of the Court of Appeal or the President of the Court of First Instance shall justify this in writing and notify the judge concerned accordingly.

4 - Any party to an action may object to a judge taking part in the proceedings on any of the grounds listed in paragraph 2 or where the judge is suspected, with good reason, of partiality.

5 - Any difficulty arising as to the application of this article shall be settled by decision of the Presidium, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure. The judge concerned shall be heard but shall not take part in the deliberations.

Article 8

Immunity of judges

1 - The judges shall be immune from legal proceedings. After they have ceased to hold office, they shall continue to enjoy immunity in respect of acts performed by them in relation to their official capacity.

2 - The Presidium may waive the immunity.

3 - Where immunity has been waived and criminal proceedings are instituted against a judge, that judge shall be tried, in any of the Contracting Member States, only by the court competent to judge the members of the highest national judiciary.

4 - The Protocol on the privileges and immunities of the European Union shall apply to the judges of the Court, without prejudice to the provisions relating to immunity from legal proceedings of judges which are set out in this Statute.

Article 9

End of duties

1 - Apart from replacement after expiry of a judge's term pursuant to article 4, or death, the duties of a judge shall end when that judge resigns.

2 - Where a judge resigns, the letter of resignation shall be addressed to the President of the Court of Appeal or, in the case of judges of the Court of First Instance, the President of the Court of First Instance for transmission to the Chairman of the Administrative Committee.

3 - Save where article 10 applies, a judge shall continue to hold office until that judge's successor takes up his or her duties.

4 - Any vacancy shall by filled by the appointment of a new judge for the remainder of his or her predecessor's term.

Article 10

Removal from office

1 - A judge may be deprived of his or her office or of other benefits only if the Presidium decides that that judge no longer fulfils the requisite conditions or meets the obligations arising from his or her office. The judge concerned shall be heard but shall not take part in the deliberations.

2 - The Registrar of the Court shall communicate this decision to the Chairman of the Administrative Committee.

3 - In the case of a decision depriving a judge of his or her office, a vacancy shall arise upon that notification.

Article 11

Training

1 - Appropriate and regular training of judges shall be provided for within the training framework set up under article 19 of the Agreement. The Presidium shall adopt Training Regulations ensuring the implementation and overall coherence of the training framework.

2 - The training framework shall provide a platform for the exchange of expertise and a forum for discussion, in particular by:

(a) Organising courses, conferences, seminars, workshops and symposia;

(b) Cooperating with international organisations and education institutes in the field of intellectual property; and

(c) Promoting and supporting further vocational training.

3 - An annual work programme and training guidelines shall be drawn up, which shall include for each judge an annual training plan identifying that judge's main training needs in accordance with the Training Regulations.

4 - The training framework shall in addition:

(a) Ensure appropriate training for candidate-judges and newly appointed judges of the Court;

(b) Support projects aimed at facilitating cooperation between representatives, patent attorneys and the Court.

Article 12

Remuneration

The Administrative Committee shall set the remuneration of the President of the Court of Appeal, the President of the Court of First Instance, the judges, the Registrar, the Deputy-Registrar and the staff.

CHAPTER II

Organisational Provisions

SECTION 1

Common Provisions

Article 13

President of the Court of Appeal

1 - The President of the Court of Appeal shall be elected by all judges of the Court of Appeal for a term of three years, from among their number. The President of the Court of Appeal may be re-elected twice.

2 - The elections of the President of the Court of Appeal shall be by secret ballot. A judge obtaining an absolute majority shall be elected. If no judge obtains an absolute majority, a second ballot shall be held and the judge obtaining the most votes shall be elected.

3 - The President of the Court of Appeal shall direct the judicial activities and the administration of the Court of Appeal and chair the Court of Appeal sitting as a full Court.

4 - If the office of the President of the Court of Appeal falls vacant before the date of expiry of his or her term, a successor shall be elected for the remainder thereof.

Article 14

President of the Court of First Instance

1 - The President of the Court of First Instance shall be elected by all judges of the Court of First Instance who are full-time judges, for a term of three years, from among their number. The President of the Court of First Instance may be re-elected twice.

2 - The first President of the Court of First Instance shall be a national of the Contracting Member State hosting the seat of the central division.

3 - The President of the Court of First Instance shall direct the judicial activities and the administration of the Court of First Instance.

4 - Article 13(2) and (4), shall by analogy apply to the President of the Court of First Instance.

Article 15

Presidium

1 - The Presidium shall be composed of the President of the Court of Appeal, who shall act as chairperson, the President of the Court of First Instance, two judges of the Court of Appeal elected from among their number, three judges of the Court of First Instance who are full-time judges of the Court elected from among their number, and the Registrar as a non-voting member.

2 - The Presidium shall exercise its duties in accordance with this Statute. It may, without prejudice to its own responsibility, delegate certain tasks to one of its members.

3 - The Presidium shall be responsible for the management of the Court and shall in particular:

(a) Draw up proposals for the amendment of the Rules of Procedure in accordance with article 41 of the Agreement and proposals regarding the Financial Regulations of the Court;

(b) Prepare the annual budget, the annual accounts and the annual report of the Court and submit them to the Budget Committee;

(c) Establish the guidelines for the training programme for judges and supervise the implementation thereof;

(d) Take decisions on the appointment and removal of the Registrar and the Deputy-Registrar;

(e) Lay down the rules governing the Registry including the sub-registries;

(f) Give an opinion in accordance with article 83(5) of the Agreement.

4 - Decisions of the Presidium referred to in articles 7, 8, 10 and 22 shall be taken without the participation of the Registrar.

5 - The Presidium can take valid decisions only when all members are present or duly represented. Decisions shall be taken by a majority of the votes.

Article 16

Staff

1 - The officials and other servants of the Court shall have the task of assisting the President of the Court of Appeal, the President of the Court of First Instance, the judges and the Registrar. They shall be responsible to the Registrar, under the authority of the President of the Court of Appeal and the President of the Court of First Instance.

2 - The Administrative Committee shall establish the Staff Regulations of officials and other servants of the Court.

Article 17

Judicial vacations

1 - After consulting the Presidium, the President of the Court of Appeal shall establish the duration of judicial vacations and the rules on observing official holidays.

2 - During the period of judicial vacations, the functions of the President of the Court of Appeal and of the President of the Court of First Instance may be exercised by any judge invited by the respective President to that effect. In cases of urgency, the President of the Court of Appeal may convene the judges.

3 - The President of the Court of Appeal or the President of the Court of First Instance may, in proper circumstances, grant leave of absence to respectively judges of the Court of Appeal or judges of the Court of First Instance.

SECTION 2

The Court of First Instance

Article 18

Setting up and discontinuance of a local or regional division

1 - A request from one or more Contracting Member States for the setting up of a local or regional division shall be addressed to the Chairman of the Administrative Committee. It shall indicate the seat of the local or regional division.

2 - The decision of the Administrative Committee setting up a local or regional division shall indicate the number of judges for the division concerned and shall be public.

3 - The Administrative Committee shall decide to discontinue a local or regional division at the request of the Contracting Member State hosting the local division or the Contracting Member States participating in the regional division. The decision to discontinue a local or regional division shall state the date after which no new cases may be brought before the division and the date on which the division will cease to exist.

4 - As from the date on which a local or regional division ceases to exist, the judges assigned to that local or regional division shall be assigned to the central division, and cases still pending before that local or regional division together with the sub-registry and all of its documentation shall be transferred to the central division.

Article 19

Panels

1 - The allocation of judges and the assignment of cases within a division to its panels shall be governed by the Rules of Procedure. One judge of the panel shall be designated as the presiding judge, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.

2 - The panel may delegate, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure, certain functions to one or more of its judges.

3 - A standing judge for each division to hear urgent cases may be designated in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.

4 - In cases where a single judge in accordance with article 8(7) of the Agreement, or a standing judge, in accordance with paragraph 3 of this article, hears a case that judge shall carry out all functions of a panel.

5 - One judge of the panel shall act as Rapporteur, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.

Article 20

Pool of Judges

1 - A list with the names of the judges included in the Pool of Judges shall be drawn up by the Registrar. In relation to each judge, the list shall at least indicate the linguistic skills, the field of technology and experience of, as well as the cases previously handled by, that judge.

2 - A request addressed to the President of the Court of First Instance to assign a judge from the Pool of Judges shall indicate, in particular, the subject matter of the case, the official language of the European Patent Office used by the judges of the panel, the language of the proceedings and the field of technology required.

SECTION 3

The Court of Appeal

Article 21

Panels

1 - The allocation of judges and the assignment of cases to panels shall be governed by the Rules of Procedure. One judge of the panel shall be appointed as the presiding judge, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.

2 - When a case is of exceptional importance, and in particular when the decision may affect the unity and consistency of the case law of the Court, the Court of Appeal may decide, on the basis of a proposal from the presiding judge, to refer the case to the full Court.

3 - The panel may delegate, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure, certain functions to one or more of its judges.

4 - One judge of the panel shall act as Rapporteur, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.

SECTION 4

The registry

Article 22

Appointment and removal from office of the Registrar

1 - The Presidium shall appoint the Registrar of the Court for a term of six years. The Registrar may be re-appointed.

2 - Two weeks before the date fixed for appointing the Registrar, the President of the Court of Appeal shall inform the Presidium of the applications which have been submitted for the post.

3 - Before taking up his or her duties, the Registrar shall take oath before the Presidium to perform the duties of the Registrar impartially and conscientiously.

4 - The Registrar may be removed from office only if the Registrar no longer meets the obligations arising from his or her office. The Presidium shall take its decision after having heard the Registrar.

5 - If the office of the Registrar falls vacant before the date of expiry of the term thereof, the Presidium shall appoint a new Registrar for a term of six years.

6 - If the Registrar is absent or prevented from attending or where such post is vacant, the President of the Court of Appeal after having consulted the Presidium shall designate a member of the staff of the Court to carry out the duties of the Registrar.

Article 23

Duties of the Registrar

1 - The Registrar shall assist the Court, the President of the Court of Appeal, the President of the Court of First Instance and the judges in the performance of their functions. The Registrar shall be responsible for the organisation and activities of the Registry under the authority of the President of the Court of Appeal.

2 - The Registrar shall in particular be responsible for:

(a) Keeping the register which shall include records of all cases before the Court;

(b) Keeping and administering lists drawn up in accordance with articles 18, 48(3) and 57(2) of the Agreement;

(c) Keeping and publishing a list of notifications and withdrawals of opt-outs in accordance with article 83 of the Agreement;

(d) Publishing the decisions of the Court, subject to the protection of confidential information;

(e) Publishing annual reports with statistical data; and

(f) Ensuring that the information on opt-outs in accordance with article 83 of the Agreement is notified to the European Patent Office.

Article 24

Keeping of the register

1 - Detailed rules for keeping the register of the Court shall be prescribed in the Rules governing the Registry, adopted by the Presidium.

2 - The rules on access to documents of the Registry shall be provided for in the Rules of Procedure.

Article 25

Sub-registries and Deputy-Registrar

1 - A Deputy-Registrar shall be appointed for a term of six years by the Presidium. The Deputy-Registrar may be re-appointed.

2 - Article 22(2) to (6) shall apply by analogy.

3 - The Deputy-Registrar shall be responsible for the organisation and activities of sub-registries under the authority of the Registrar and the President of the Court of First Instance. The duties of the Deputy-Registrar shall in particular include:

(a) Keeping records of all cases before the Court of First Instance;

(b) Notifying every case before the Court of First Instance to the Registry.

4 - The Deputy-Registrar shall also provide administrative and secretarial assistance to the divisions of the Court of First Instance.

CHAPTER III

Financial Provisions

Article 26

Budget

1 - The budget shall be adopted by the Budget Committee on a proposal from the Presidium. It shall be drawn up in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles laid down in the Financial Regulations, established in accordance with article 33.

2 - Within the budget, the Presidium may, in accordance with the Financial Regulations, transfer funds between the various headings or subheadings.

3 - The Registrar shall be responsible for the implementation of the budget in accordance with the Financial Regulations.

4 - The Registrar shall annually make a statement on the accounts of the preceding financial year relating to the implementation of the budget which shall be approved by the Presidium.

Article 27

Authorisation for expenditure

1 - The expenditure entered in the budget shall be authorised for the duration of one accounting period unless the Financial Regulations provide otherwise.

2 - In accordance with the Financial Regulations, any appropriations, other than those relating to staff costs, which are unexpended at the end of the accounting period may be carried forward, but not beyond the end of the following accounting period.

3 - Appropriations shall be set out under different headings according to type and purpose of the expenditure, and subdivided, to the extent necessary, in accordance with the Financial Regulations.

Article 28

Appropriations for unforeseeable expenditure

1 - The budget of the Court may include appropriations for unforeseeable expenditure.

2 - The employment of these appropriations by the Court shall be subject to the prior approval of the Budget Committee.

Article 29

Accounting period

The accounting period shall commence on 1 January and end on 31 December.

Article 30

Preparation of the budget

The Presidium shall submit the draft budget of the Court to the Budget Committee no later than the date prescribed in the Financial Regulations.

Article 31

Provisional budget

1 - If, at the beginning of the accounting period, the budget has not been adopted by the Budget Committee, expenditure may be effected on a monthly basis per heading or other division of the budget, in accordance with the Financial Regulations, up to one-twelfth of the budget appropriations for the preceding accounting period, provided that the appropriations thus made available to the Presidium do not exceed one-twelfth of those provided for in the draft budget.

2 - The Budget Committee may, subject to the observance of the other provisions laid down in paragraph 1, authorise expenditure in excess of one-twelfth of the budget appropriations for the preceding accounting period.

Article 32

Auditing of accounts

1 - The annual financial statements of the Court shall be examined by independent auditors. The auditors shall be appointed and if necessary dismissed by the Budget Committee.

2 - The audit, which shall be based on professional auditing standards and shall take place, if necessary, in situ, shall ascertain that the budget has been implemented in a lawful and proper manner and that the financial administration of the Court has been conducted in accordance with the principles of economy and sound financial management. The auditors shall draw up a report after the end of each accounting period containing a signed audit opinion.

3 - The Presidium shall submit to the Budget Committee the annual financial statements of the Court and the annual budget implementation statement for the preceding accounting period, together with the auditors' report.

4 - The Budget Committee shall approve the annual accounts together with the auditors' report and shall discharge the Presidium in respect of the implementation of the budget.

Article 33

Financial Regulations

1 - Financial Regulations shall be adopted by the Administrative Committee. They shall be amended by the Administrative Committee on a proposal from the Court.

2 - The Financial Regulations shall lay down in particular:

(a) Arrangements relating to the establishment and implementation of the budget and for the rendering and auditing of accounts;

(b) The method and procedure whereby the payments and contributions, including the initial financial contributions provided for in article 37 of the Agreement are to be made available to the Court;

(c) The rules concerning the responsibilities of authorising and accounting officers and the arrangements for their supervision; and

(d) The generally accepted accounting principles on which the budget and the annual financial statements are to be based.

CHAPTER IV

Procedural Provisions

Article 34

Secrecy of deliberations

The deliberations of the Court shall be and shall remain secret.

Article 35

Decisions

1 - When a panel sits in composition of an even number of judges, decisions of the Court shall be taken by a majority of the panel. In case of equal vote, the vote of the presiding judge shall prevail.

2 - In the event of one of the judges of a panel being prevented from attending, a judge from another panel may be called upon to sit in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.

3 - In cases where this Statute provides that the Court of Appeal shall take a decision sitting as a full court, such decision shall be valid only if it is taken by at least 3/4 of the judges comprising the full Court.

4 - Decisions of the Court shall contain the names of the judges deciding the case.

5 - Decisions shall be signed by the judges deciding the case, by the Registrar for decisions of the Court of Appeal, and by the Deputy-Registrar for decisions of the Court of First Instance. They shall be read in open court.

Article 36

Dissenting opinions

A dissenting opinion expressed separately by a judge of a panel in accordance with article 78 of the Agreement shall be reasoned, given in writing and shall be signed by the judge expressing this opinion.

Article 37

Decision by default

1 - At the request of a party to an action, a decision by default may be given in accordance with the Rules of Procedure, where the other party, after having been served with a document instituting proceedings or with an equivalent document, fails to file written submissions in defence or fails to appear at the oral hearing. An objection may be lodged against that decision within one month of it being notified to the party against which the default decision has been given.

2 - The objection shall not have the effect of staying enforcement of the decision by default unless the Court decides otherwise.

Article 38

Questions referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union

1 - The procedures established by the Court of Justice of the European Union for referrals for preliminary rulings within the European Union shall apply.

2 - Whenever the Court of First Instance or the Court of Appeal has decided to refer to the Court of Justice of the European Union a question of interpretation of the Treaty on European Union or of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union or a question on the validity or interpretation of acts of the institutions of the European Union, it shall stay its proceedings.

ANNEX II

Distribution of cases within the central division (1)

([ver documento original](https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2015/08/15200/0541605463.pdf))

ACORDO RELATIVO AO TRIBUNAL UNIFICADO DE PATENTES

Os Estados Membros Contratantes:

Considerando que a cooperação entre os Estados membros da União Europeia no domínio das patentes contribui significativamente para o processo de integração na Europa, em especial para o estabelecimento de um mercado interno dentro da União Europeia caracterizado pela livre circulação de bens e serviços e pela criação de um sistema que assegure a não distorção da concorrência no mercado interno;

Considerando que um mercado de patentes fragmentado e as variações significativas entre os sistemas jurisdicionais nacionais prejudicam a inovação, em especial no caso das pequenas e médias empresas, que têm dificuldade em fazer respeitar as suas patentes e em defender-se contra pedidos infundados e pedidos relacionados com patentes que deveriam ser extintas;

Considerando que a Convenção sobre a Patente Europeia («CPE»), que foi ratificada por todos os Estados membros da União Europeia, prevê um procedimento uniforme de concessão de patentes europeias pelo Instituto Europeu de Patentes;

Considerando que, por força do Regulamento (UE) n.º 1257/2012 (1), os titulares de patentes podem pedir que as suas patentes europeias beneficiem de efeito unitário por forma a obter uma proteção de patente unitária nos Estados membros da União Europeia que participam na cooperação reforçada;

Pretendendo melhorar o respeito pelas patentes e a defesa contra pedidos infundados e patentes que deveriam ser extintas e aumentar a segurança jurídica através da criação de um Tribunal Unificado de Patentes para os litígios relacionados com a violação e a validade das patentes;

Considerando que o Tribunal Unificado de Patentes deverá ser concebido de forma a assegurar decisões céleres e de elevada qualidade, estabelecendo um justo equilíbrio entre os interesses dos titulares de direitos e outras partes interessadas, e tendo em consideração a necessidade de proporcionalidade e flexibilidade;

Considerando que o Tribunal Unificado de Patentes deverá ser um órgão jurisdicional comum aos Estados Membros Contratantes e, por conseguinte, fazer parte do seu sistema judicial, com competência exclusiva para patentes europeias de efeito unitário e patentes europeias concedidas nos termos das disposições da CPE;

Considerando que compete ao Tribunal de Justiça da União Europeia assegurar a uniformidade da ordem jurídica da União e a primazia do direito da União Europeia;

Recordando as obrigações que incumbem aos Estados Membros Contratantes por força do Tratado da União Europeia (TUE) e do Tratado sobre o Funcionamento da União Europeia (TFUE), nomeadamente a obrigação da cooperação leal nos termos do artigo 4.º, n.º 3, do TUE e a obrigação de assegurar através do Tribunal Unificado de Patentes a plena aplicação e o respeito do direito da União nos seus territórios, bem como a proteção jurídica dos direitos das pessoas ao abrigo desse direito;

Considerando que, tal como qualquer órgão jurisdicional nacional, o Tribunal Unificado de Patentes deve respeitar e aplicar o direito da União e, em cooperação com o Tribunal de Justiça da União Europeia enquanto guardião do direito da União, assegurar a sua correta aplicação e interpretação uniforme; o Tribunal Unificado de Patentes deve nomeadamente cooperar com o Tribunal de Justiça da União Europeia para a interpretação correta do direito da União, com base na jurisprudência deste último e apresentando pedidos de decisão prejudicial nos termos do artigo 267.º do TFUE;

Considerando que, de acordo com a jurisprudência do Tribunal de Justiça da União Europeia em matéria de responsabilidade extracontratual, os Estados Membros Contratantes deverão ser responsabilizados pelos danos causados por violação do direito da União pelo Tribunal Unificado de Patentes, nomeadamente a não apresentação de pedidos de decisão prejudicial ao Tribunal de Justiça da União Europeia;

Considerando que as violações do direito da União pelo Tribunal Unificado de Patentes, nomeadamente a não apresentação de pedidos de decisão prejudicial ao Tribunal de Justiça da União Europeia, são diretamente imputáveis aos Estados Membros Contratantes e que, por conseguinte, podem ser intentadas contra qualquer Estado Membro Contratante ações por violação nos termos dos artigos 258.º, 259.º e 260.º do TFUE a fim de assegurar o respeito pela primazia e a aplicação correta do direito da União;

Recordando a primazia do direito da União, nomeadamente o TUE, o TFUE, a Carta dos Direitos Fundamentais da União Europeia, os princípios gerais do direito da União definidos pelo Tribunal de Justiça da União Europeia e, em especial, o direito de recurso efetivo a um órgão jurisdicional e o direito a que a causa seja examinada de forma equitativa, publicamente e num prazo razoável por um órgão jurisdicional independente e imparcial, a jurisprudência do Tribunal de Justiça e o direito derivado da União;

Considerando que o presente Acordo está aberto à adesão de qualquer dos Estados membros da União Europeia, que os Estados membros que tenham decidido não participar na cooperação reforçada no domínio da criação da proteção unitária das patentes podem participar no presente Acordo no que diz respeito às patentes europeias concedidas para o respetivo território;

Considerando que o presente Acordo deverá entrar em vigor em 1 de janeiro de 2014, ou no 1.º dia do 4.º mês após o depósito do 13.º instrumento de ratificação ou adesão, incluindo os três Estados membros que contavam o maior número de patentes europeias em vigor no ano anterior ao da assinatura do presente Acordo, ou no 1.º dia do 4.º mês após a data de entrada em vigor das alterações ao Regulamento (UE) n.º 1215/2012 (2) no que respeita à relação deste com o presente Acordo, consoante a data que for posterior:

acordaram no seguinte:

PARTE I — Disposições gerais e institucionais

CAPÍTULO I — Disposições gerais

Artigo 1.º — Tribunal Unificado de Patentes

É criado um Tribunal Unificado de Patentes para a resolução de litígios relacionados com as patentes europeias e com as patentes europeias com efeito unitário.

O Tribunal Unificado de Patentes é um órgão jurisdicional comum aos Estados Membros Contratantes e como tal sujeito às mesmas obrigações nos termos do direito da União que qualquer órgão jurisdicional nacional dos Estados Membros Contratantes.

Artigo 2.º — Definições

Para efeitos do presente Acordo, entende-se por:

Artigo 3.º — Âmbito de aplicação

O presente Acordo é aplicável a qualquer:

Artigo 4.º — Estatuto legal

1 - O Tribunal é dotado de personalidade jurídica em cada Estado Membro Contratante e goza da mais ampla capacidade jurídica concedida às pessoas coletivas pela legislação nacional desse Estado.

2 - O Tribunal é representado pelo Presidente do Tribunal de Recurso, que é eleito nos termos do Estatuto.

Artigo 5.º — Responsabilidade

1 - A responsabilidade contratual do Tribunal rege-se pela lei aplicável ao contrato em causa nos termos do Regulamento (CE) n.º 593/2008 (5) (Roma I), se aplicável, ou pela lei do Estado membro do tribunal demandado.

2 - A responsabilidade extracontratual do Tribunal no que diz respeito aos danos causados por si ou pelo seu pessoal no exercício das suas funções, na medida em que não se trate de matéria civil ou comercial na aceção do Regulamento (CE) n.º 864/2007 (6) (Roma II), rege-se pela lei do Estado Membro Contratante onde ocorreu o facto danoso. Esta disposição não prejudica o disposto no artigo 22.º

3 - O Tribunal competente para resolver os litígios a que se refere o n.º 2 é um órgão jurisdicional do Estado Membro Contratante onde ocorreu o facto danoso.

CAPÍTULO II — Disposições institucionais

Artigo 6.º — Tribunal

1 - O Tribunal é constituído por um Tribunal de Primeira Instância, por um Tribunal de Recurso e por uma Secretaria.

2 - O Tribunal exerce a competência que lhe é atribuída pelo presente Acordo.

Artigo 7.º — Tribunal de Primeira Instância

1 - O Tribunal de Primeira Instância é constituído por uma divisão central, bem como por divisões locais e regionais.

2 - A divisão central tem a sua sede em Paris e secções em Londres e em Munique. Os processos instaurados na divisão central são distribuídos segundo o anexo ii, que é parte integrante do presente Acordo.

3 - São criadas divisões locais nos Estados Membros Contratantes, a pedido destes, nos termos do Estatuto. Os Estados Membros Contratantes que acolhem uma divisão local decidem do local da respetiva sede.

4 - É criada uma divisão local suplementar num Estado Membro Contratante, a seu pedido, por cada 100 processos de patentes que tenham sido iniciados, por ano civil, nesse Estado Contratante, nos três anos consecutivos anteriores ou posteriores à data de entrada em vigor do presente Acordo. O número de divisões locais por Estado Membro Contratante não pode ser superior a quatro.

5 - É criada uma divisão regional para dois ou mais Estados Contratantes, a pedido destes, nos termos do Estatuto. Esses Estados Membros Contratantes decidem da sede da divisão em causa. A divisão regional pode deliberar em mais que um local.

Artigo 8.º — Composição das secções do Tribunal de Primeira Instância

1 - As secções do Tribunal de Primeira Instância têm uma composição multinacional. Sem prejuízo do n.º 5 do presente artigo e do artigo 33.º, n.º 3, alínea a), as secções são compostas por três juízes.

2 - A secção de uma divisão local num Estado Membro Contratante onde, no período de três anos consecutivos anteriores ou posteriores à entrada em vigor do presente Acordo, tiverem sido iniciados em média menos de 50 processos de patentes por ano civil deve ser constituída por um juiz com formação jurídica que seja nacional do Estado Membro Contratante que acolhe a divisão local em causa e por dois juízes com formação jurídica que não sejam nacionais do Estado Membro Contratante em causa, sendo destacados da bolsa de juízes nos termos do artigo 18.º, n.º 3, numa base casuística.

3 - Não obstante o disposto no n.º 2, a secção de uma divisão local num Estado Membro Contratante onde, no período de três anos sucessivos anteriores ou posteriores à entrada em vigor do presente Acordo, tiverem sido iniciados em média 50 ou mais processos de patentes por ano civil, é constituída por dois juízes com formação jurídica que sejam nacionais do Estado Membro Contratante que acolhe a divisão local em causa e por um juiz com formação jurídica que não seja nacional do Estado Membro Contratante em causa, sendo destacado da bolsa de juízes nos termos do artigo 18.º, n.º 3. O terceiro juiz é destacado a longo prazo para a divisão local, sempre que tal for necessário ao eficiente funcionamento das divisões com elevado volume de trabalho.

4 - A secção de uma divisão regional é composta por dois juízes com formação jurídica, selecionados a partir de uma lista regional de juízes, que sejam nacionais dos Estados Membros Contratantes em causa e por um juiz com formação jurídica que não seja nacional dos Estados Membros Contratantes em causa, sendo destacado da bolsa de juízes nos termos do artigo 18.º, n.º 3.

5 - A pedido de uma das partes, a secção de uma divisão local ou regional solicita ao Presidente do Tribunal de Primeira Instância que destaque da bolsa de juízes nos termos do artigo 18.º, n.º 3, um juiz suplementar com formação técnica, com qualificações e experiência na área tecnológica em questão. Além disso, a secção de uma divisão local ou regional pode, ouvidas as partes, apresentar esse pedido por sua própria iniciativa, sempre que o considerar adequado.

Nos casos em que já está destacado esse juiz com formação técnica, deixa de ser necessário o destacamento de um juiz com formação técnica nos termos do artigo 33.º, n.º 3, alínea a).

6 - As secções da divisão central são compostas por dois juízes com formação jurídica que sejam nacionais de vários Estados Membros Contratantes e por um juiz com formação técnica, destacado da bolsa de juízes nos termos do artigo 18.º, n.º 3, com qualificações e experiência na área tecnológica em questão. Todavia, as secções da divisão central que tratam dos processos a que se refere o artigo 32.º, n.º 1, alínea i), são compostas por três juízes com formação jurídica que sejam nacionais de vários Estados Membros Contratantes.

7 - Não obstante o disposto nos n.os 1 a 6 e nos termos do Regulamento de Processo, as partes podem acordar em que o seu processo seja julgado por um único juiz com formação jurídica.

8 - As secções do Tribunal de Primeira Instância são presididas por um juiz com formação jurídica.

Artigo 9.º — Tribunal de Recurso

1 - As secções do Tribunal de Recurso têm uma composição multinacional de cinco juízes. São compostas por três juízes com formação jurídica que sejam nacionais de vários Estados Membros Contratantes e por dois juízes com formação técnica, com qualificações e experiência na área tecnológica em causa. Os juízes com formação técnica são afetos à secção pelo Presidente do Tribunal de Recurso a partir da bolsa de juízes nos termos do artigo 18.º

2 - Não obstante o disposto no n.º 1, as secções que tratam dos processos a que se refere o artigo 32.º, n.º 1, alínea i), são compostas por três juízes com formação jurídica que sejam nacionais de vários Estados Membros Contratantes.

3 - As secções do Tribunal de Recurso são presididas por um juiz com formação jurídica.

4 - As secções do Tribunal de Recurso são criadas de acordo com o Estatuto.

5 - O Tribunal de Recurso tem a sua sede no Luxemburgo.

Artigo 10.º — Secretaria

1 - É criada uma Secretaria na sede do Tribunal de Recurso. A Secretaria é dirigida pelo Secretário e desempenha as funções que lhe são atribuídas pelo Estatuto. Sem prejuízo do presente Acordo e do Regulamento de Processo, os registos da Secretaria são públicos.

2 - São criadas Subsecretarias em todas as divisões do Tribunal de Primeira Instância.

3 - A Secretaria guarda os autos de todos os processos instaurados no Tribunal. Uma vez apresentada a petição, as Subsecretarias notificam cada processo à Secretaria.

4 - O Tribunal nomeia o Secretário nos termos do artigo 22.º do Estatuto e estabelece o regulamento interno do serviço.

Artigo 11.º — Comités

São criados um Comité Administrativo, um Comité Orçamental e um Comité Consultivo, para assegurar a efetiva aplicação e funcionamento do disposto no presente Acordo. Estes Comités exercem nomeadamente as funções previstas no presente Acordo e no Estatuto.

Artigo 12.º — Comité Administrativo

1 - O Comité Administrativo é composto por um representante de cada Estado Membro Contratante. A Comissão Europeia está representada nas reuniões do Comité Administrativo com estatuto de observador.

2 - Cada Estado Membro Contratante tem direito a um voto.

3 - O Comité Administrativo adota as suas decisões por maioria de três quartos dos Estados Membros Contratantes representados e votantes, salvo disposição em contrário do presente Acordo ou do Estatuto.

4 - O Comité Administrativo adota o seu regulamento interno.

5 - O Comité Administrativo designa, de entre os seus membros, o Presidente por um período de três anos. O seu mandato é renovável.

Artigo 13.º — Comité Orçamental

1 - O Comité Orçamental é composto por um representante de cada Estado Membro Contratante.

2 - Cada Estado Membro Contratante tem direito a um voto.

3 - O Comité Orçamental toma as suas decisões por maioria simples dos representantes dos Estados Membros Contratantes. Contudo, para a aprovação do orçamento é necessária uma maioria de três quartos dos representantes dos Estados Membros Contratantes.

4 - O Comité Orçamental adota o seu regulamento interno.

5 - O Comité Orçamental designa, de entre os seus membros, o Presidente por um período de três anos. O seu mandato é renovável.

Artigo 14.º — Comité Consultivo

1 - O Comité Consultivo:

2 - O Comité Consultivo é composto por juízes de patentes e especialistas em direito de patentes e litígios de patentes de elevada e reconhecida competência. São nomeados para um mandato de seis anos, nos termos do procedimento estabelecido no Estatuto. O seu mandato é renovável.

3 - A composição do Comité Consultivo deve assegurar um amplo leque de competências pertinentes e a representação de cada um dos Estados Membros Contratantes. No exercício das suas funções, os membros do Comité Consultivo são totalmente independentes e não estão vinculados a quaisquer instruções.

4 - O Comité Consultivo adota o seu regulamento interno.

5 - O Comité Consultivo designa, de entre os seus membros, o Presidente por um período de três anos. O seu mandato é renovável.

CAPÍTULO III — Juízes do Tribunal

Artigo 15.º — Critérios de elegibilidade para a nomeação dos juízes

1 - O Tribunal é composto por juízes com formação jurídica e por juízes com formação técnica. Os juízes devem assegurar os mais elevados padrões de competência e possuir experiência comprovada no domínio da resolução de litígios em matéria de patentes.

2 - Os juízes com formação jurídica devem ter as qualificações necessárias para exercer funções judiciais num Estado Membro Contratante.

3 - Os juízes com formação técnica devem ter habilitações de nível superior e experiência comprovada numa área tecnológica. Devem também ter conhecimentos comprovados de direito civil e do processo aplicável em matéria de litígios sobre patentes.

Artigo 16.º — Processo de nomeação

1 - O Comité Consultivo estabelece uma lista dos candidatos mais adequados para nomeação como juízes do Tribunal, nos termos do Estatuto.

2 - Com base nessa lista, o Comité Administrativo nomeia os juízes do Tribunal, deliberando de comum acordo.

3 - O Estatuto estabelece as regras do processo para a nomeação dos juízes.

Artigo 17.º — Independência judicial e imparcialidade

1 - O Tribunal, os seus juízes e o Secretário gozam de independência judicial. No exercício das suas funções, os juízes não estão vinculados a quaisquer instruções.

2 - Os juízes com formação jurídica, bem como os juízes com formação técnica que são juízes do Tribunal a tempo inteiro, não podem exercer nenhuma outra atividade profissional, remunerada ou não, salvo disposição em contrário do Comité Administrativo.

3 - Não obstante o disposto no n.º 2, o exercício da função de juiz não exclui o exercício de outras funções judiciais a nível nacional.

4 - O exercício da função de juiz com formação técnica por pessoas que são juízes do Tribunal a tempo parcial não exclui o exercício de outras funções desde que não haja conflito de interesses.

5 - Em caso de conflito de interesses, o juiz em causa não intervém no processo. O Estatuto estabelece as regras que regulam os conflitos de interesses.

Artigo 18.º — Bolsa de juízes

1 - É estabelecida uma bolsa de juízes de acordo com o Estatuto.

2 - A bolsa de juízes é constituída por todos os juízes com formação jurídica e juízes com formação técnica do Tribunal de Primeira Instância que sejam juízes do Tribunal a tempo inteiro ou parcial. A bolsa de juízes inclui pelo menos um juiz com formação técnica com as qualificações e a experiência pertinentes em cada área tecnológica. Os juízes com formação técnica da bolsa de juízes estão igualmente à disposição do Tribunal de Recurso.

3 - Nos casos previstos no presente Acordo ou no Estatuto, os juízes da bolsa de juízes são destacados para a divisão em causa pelo Presidente do Tribunal de Primeira Instância. O destacamento de juízes far-se-á com base nas suas qualificações jurídicas e técnicas, conhecimentos linguísticos e experiência pertinente comprovada. O destacamento de juízes garante a mesma qualidade elevada do trabalho e o mesmo nível elevado de conhecimentos jurídicos e técnicos em todas as secções do Tribunal de Primeira Instância.

Artigo 19.º — Quadro de formação

1 - É instituído no Estatuto um plano de formação detalhado para os juízes, a fim de melhorar e aumentar as suas competências em resolução de litígios de patentes e de assegurar uma ampla distribuição geográfica de tais conhecimentos e experiência específicos. As instalações onde decorrem as ações previstas no plano de formação situam-se em Budapeste.

2 - O plano de formação baseia-se especialmente nos seguintes elementos: