The Unified Patent Court’s Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre is now operational
On 2 June 2026, the Unified Patent Court’s (UPC) Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre (PMAC) was officially put into operation in Ljubljana (Slovenia). Set up under Article 35 of the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (UPCA), the PMAC now finishes building the European patent dispute resolution framework. Its opening is an important milestone in the development of the European patent system, fully integrating Appropriate Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms into the working of the UPC.
The PMAC: much more than a mediation and arbitration centre
The PMAC is an integral part of the UPC system. Contrary to what its name might suggest, the PMAC is not merely a mediation and arbitration centre. It is a specialised institution offering a range of dispute resolution mechanisms—including mediation, arbitration, expert decision and hybrid procedures—to provide the parties with the solution fitting in best with their dispute.
With its seats in Ljubljana and Lisbon, the Centre is fully built in into the structure of the UPC while keeping the independence needed to succeed in friendly settlement proceedings. The Centre may be used both for litigation cases already pending before the UPC and for any other dispute relating to European patents or European patents with unitary effect, including related disputes that have a factual, legal or commercial connection with such patents. The Centre’s working languages are English, French and German.
Beyond providing an institutional framework, the PMAC aims to become a leading European centre for the resolution of technology litigation cases, particularly those with a significant international scope or involving standard-essential patents (SEPs) and FRAND licensing.
“Appropriate Dispute Resolution”: choosing the most suitable dispute resolution mechanism
The idea put forward by the Director of the PMAC, Aleš Zalar, goes beyond the traditional notion of “Alternative Dispute Resolution”. The PMAC instead promotes the expression “Appropriate Dispute Resolution” to emphasise that mediation, arbitration and expert assessment are not merely alternatives to litigation, but dispute resolution mechanisms that stand on an equal footing with judicial proceedings. The goal is to enable parties to choose, or combine, the mechanism best suited to the nature of their dispute and their respective interests.
This philosophy is reflected in the close interaction between the PMAC and the UPC. At any stage of the proceedings, UPC judges may invite the parties to explore a friendly settlement through the PMAC. The parties may therefore request a stay of the judicial proceedings in order to try out mediation or another dispute resolution process before going back to litigation, where necessary. In addition, settlement agreements may be confirmed by the UPC and become enforceable. Financial incentives, in the form of partial refunds of court fees where a friendly settlement is reached, further encourage the use of these mechanisms.
A new European ecosystem for patent dispute resolution
The PMAC is not merely a new service; it contributes to the creation of a genuine European ecosystem for patent dispute resolution.
The Centre relies on a pool of mediators, arbitrators and experts, also referred to as “neutrals”, selected according to stringent criteria put down by the UPC Administrative Committee, combining expertise in intellectual property, technical knowledge and specialised training in dispute resolution mechanisms. The PMAC also provides a continuous training programme designed to ensure a high level of quality and consistency in practices. Aleš Zalar has emphasised that the quality of these “neutrals” will be one of the key factors underpinning the Centre’s credibility and success.
The PMAC also stands out for its steadfastly modern approach, featuring predominantly digital procedures, online video mediation, accelerated proceedings, reduced fees for SMEs and the possibility of using hybrid mechanisms combining mediation, arbitration and expert assessment. Its ambition is to offer businesses a faster, more flexible framework that is better suited to the technical, economic and international challenges of patent disputes.
Conclusion
With the opening of the PMAC, the UPC system has reached a new milestone by fully integrating Appropriate Dispute Resolution mechanisms alongside judicial proceedings. The launch of the PMAC reflects a significant evolution in patent dispute settlements in Europe: providing innovators, rights holders and technology users with the dispute settlement mechanism best suited to the nature of their dispute.