1. With regard to article 5, paragraph 2, of the Protocol on Privileges and Immunities of the Common Appeal Court, the Federal Republic of Germany starts from the fact that at the intergovernmental conference on Community patents held in Luxembourg in December 1985 the Contracting States agreed that the term "purchases" also includes the use of services. It is prepared to include services in the exemption if the other Contracting States do the same.
2. The Federal Republic of Germany interprets the term "exemptions" in relation to purchases used in article 8, paragraph 1, as subsequent relief through reimbursement of tax (see also article 5, paragraph 2, of the Protocol). This procedure is applied by all international and supranational organizations. It interprets the term "sold or given away" in said provision to include leasing.
The Hellenic Republic declares, in accordance with Article 83(1) of the Community Patent Convention, that it reserves the right to provide that Articles 46 and 77 of that Convention shall not apply within Greek territory to Community patents or to European patents granted for, or to national patents granted by, Greece.
The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg appointed the Tribunal d'Arrondissement de Luxembourg as Community Patents Court of First Instance as referred to in Articles 15 to 20 of the Protocol on the settlement of litigation concerning the infringement and validity of Community patents, annexed to the Agreement relating to Community patents, with exclusive jurisdiction for the two arrondissements of Luxembourg and Diekirch and with jurisdiction over the whole territory of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, or over the whole of the territories to which the Agreement relating to Community patents applies, as appropriate.
Furthermore, the Court of Appeal of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is designated as Community Patents Court of second instance as referred to in Articles 21 to 28 of the Protocol on the settlement of litigation concerning the infringement and validity of Community patents, annexed to the Agreement relating to Community patents.
United Kingdom notifies, pursuant to Article 1(3) of the Protocol on Litigation annexed to the agreement relating to Community Patents, of the designation of an additional court of first instance for England and Wales.
The court is the recently established Patents County Court located at the Edmonton County Court, Wood Green, London. Its special jurisdiction, conferred by the Lord Chancellor under Section 287 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, includes any patent matter of which the Patent Court has jurisdiction including any claims or matters ancillary to such proceedings, except for appeals from the decisions of the Comptroller of the Patent Office.
The procedure before the Patents County Court will be simpler than in the Patent Court, the intention being to reduce the cost of patent litigation and increase access to the courts particularly by small and medium enterprises.
The Instrument of Ratification deposited by the United Kingdom approves, accepts, confirms and ratifies the Agreement in respect of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.