PMAC’s procedural rules adopted, paving the way for launch of new international patent ADR hub

On 24 April 2026, the procedural rules of the Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre (PMAC) were formally approved and adopted by the Administrative Committee of the UPC and PMAC, marking a major milestone in the establishment of a modern and efficient framework for alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in patent related matters. 

With the adoption of these rules, the PMAC will be able to offer efficient and appropriate dispute resolution through mediation, arbitration, expert determination and hybrid process combinations. The PMAC will handle disputes concerning European and Unitary Patents, as well as other related disputes, including complex cross-border disputes and SEP/FRAND cases.

Aleš Zalar, the director of the PMAC, said that "The PMAC’s mission is to complement the role of the UPC in the dispute resolution landscape. Both international institutions together are implementing a model multi-door courthouse policy approach, which offers many roads to justice. The PMAC is also a free-standing independent global ADR hub for IP matters. It offers disputants a wide range of dispute resolution strategies in order to avoid, or to bring to an end, patent-related multi-jurisdictional litigation disputes."

The adoption of the rules is the culmination of a long development process. The first draft Mediation and Arbitration Rules were prepared as early as 2015 in the UPC Preparatory Committee. More recently, the original drafts were reviewed and refined by the PMAC's Expert Committee. Following a number of rounds of drafting and a public consultation process, the rules were submitted to the UPC-Advisory Committee for its input. 

Similarly, the Expert Determination Rules underwent a public consultation process, while the Fee Schedules were reviewed through an expert consultation process. 

The newly adopted rules reflect extensive public consultation, which generated nearly 1,000 stakeholder comments, as well as detailed discussions at the Expert and Administrative Committees. 

The leadership of the PMAC would like to express its sincere thanks to all those who contributed to this important process.

The PMAC’s digital-first approach, SME fee reductions, expedited procedures and SEP/FRAND specific procedural rules are designed to ensure accessibility, speed, cost-efficiency and high-quality dispute resolution services. The framework further promotes flexibility in the choice of location, provides location, provides financial incentives for early resolution and offers a range of enforcement options. With specialized expertise and strong transparency measures, the PMAC is set to strengthen Europe’s patent dispute resolution system, enhance legal certainty and positions itself as a global Centre for high-quality, technologically advanced dispute resolution.

The PMAC is expected to begin offering mediation later in May, with expert determination services and arbitration services to follow later in the year.

The full text of the rules and corresponding fee schedules are available on Rules & Legal Documents | Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre of the Unified Patent Court (PMAC) website and on Legal Documents | Unified Patent Court website .