UPC Order on Privileges & Immunities placed before Parliament today

From the UK IPO's Unified Patent Court Taskforce, comes this e-mail update about the Unified Patent Court (Immunities and Privileges) Order 2017:

Secondary legislation in the form of an Order on Privileges and Immunities for the Unified Patent Court were laid in Parliament under the International Organisations Act 1968 today. Separate legislation will be laid in the Scottish Parliament in due course.  

This is the final legislative step in the UK’s ratification of the Unified Patent Court. The Orders implement the Protocol on Privileges & Immunities and gives the Unified Patent Court its legal personality in UK law. The Orders are affirmative orders, which means they will be debated in each House of Parliament. Separately the Scottish Order will be debated in the Scottish Parliament. They will also require Privy Council approval. Once this legislation has been passed the UK will be able to formally ratify the UPC Agreement.  

The Preparatory Committee of the UPC recently confirmed that the provisional timetable for entry into force (1 December 2017) could not be met. The Preparatory Committee is monitoring progress and will announce a new opening day in due course.

With Germany's recent constitutional challenge (as reported by the IPKat here) and Parliament being distracted by the recent UK elections and Brexit negotiations, do not hold your breath for much UPC activity before the House rises on 20 July 2017. It's summer, after all...