Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre (PMAC) Inauguration

The Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre (PMAC) of the Unified Patent Court is being officially inaugurated. LBP’s Dietrich Blumenröhr will be there.

Why you rarely read about successful mediations – and why that matters

You almost never read about successful IP mediations. Not because they don’t happen – quite the contrary. It’s because they are mostly confidential. The paradox: precisely because mediation works so well and its outcomes are not published, its effectiveness remains invisible to the public.

The numbers are quite clear: At the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, 70% of all mediations result in a settlement between the parties. Even in WIPO arbitrations – i.e. cases that had already escalated – 33% still settle before the award is rendered. The WIPO Center saw a 25% increase in caseload in 2024 and has administered over 5,200 IP disputes since its inception. In the SEP/FRAND area alone, the WIPO Center has administered some 70 mediations helping parties agree on FRAND licensing terms.

The picture is the same in trademarks and designs: In November 2023, the EUIPO launched its own Mediation Centre – free of charge for all parties involved in inter partes proceedings. Since 2 June 2025, the service covers all opposition, cancellation and invalidity proceedings at first and second instance. The results: a 70% settlement rate and 80% user satisfaction – with cases typically resolved within weeks and at no additional cost. On average, a single EUIPO mediation consolidates three related proceedings between the same parties.

And the big names? Nokia and Daimler – a years-long, multinational patent dispute over mobile SEPs in “connected cars” – was settled out of court in 2022 after Nokia had filed numerous patent infringement actions. In an ICC arbitration, Nokia was awarded compensation estimated at approx. USD 218 million annually from Samsung for the use of Nokia patents. Tessera received approx. USD 125 million from Amkor in an ICC arbitration over a patent licence; InterDigital received USD 134 million from Samsung. Disney and OpenAI, too, transformed a potential billion-dollar conflict area – AI use of copyrighted content – into a strategic licensing partnership in 2025/2026: a prime example of the value of confidential negotiation and creative solutions beyond the courtroom.

The pattern is clear: Mediation and arbitration in IP disputes work – and they are used by the world’s largest players. You just rarely hear about it.

This is precisely where the PMAC comes in: The new mediation and arbitration centre of the Unified Patent Court gives this proven instrument an institutional framework – directly linked to the UPC, with its own rules, a Case Management System, and a dedicated list of accredited neutrals. The fact that the CJEU President, the UPC Court of Appeal President, and the EPO President will all speak at the official inauguration on 2 June 2026 in Ljubljana demonstrates that the PMAC is not an experiment, but a central pillar of the European patent system.

What is the PMAC?

The PMAC is the mediation and arbitration centre of the Unified Patent Court (UPC). It is established under Art. 35 of the UPC Agreement (UPCA) and offers parties a structured alternative to litigation – confidential, flexible, and tailored to patent disputes.

The Centre has its seats in Ljubljana and Lisbon and operates under the direction of Director Aleš Zalar. Its mediation and arbitration rules have just recently been adopted by the UPC Administrative Committee.

Unified IP Summit & 1st PMAC Dispute Resolution Forum – Ljubljana, 1–2 June 2026

The Inauguration of the PMAC is the highlight of the Unified IP Summit & 1st PMAC Dispute Resolution Forum. The Programme:

• Judges’ Panel with CJEU and General Court judges on EU competition law as a “public policy” limit on the recognition of IP arbitral awards.
• Panels on perspectives on incorporating AI in arbitral proceedings; on the new Case Management System (CCMS) of the PMAC as a digital ADR solution; on whether the PMAC can become a new landmark in the global SEP/FRAND landscape; on enforcement of international mediated settlement agreements and arbitral awards in IP disputes; and on recent amendments to the Rules of Procedure concerning settlement and withdrawal, and a discussion on transparency in arbitration.
• Mock Med-Arb on Day 2: A simulated mediation followed by arbitration in a fictional cross-border SEP/FRAND dispute – performed by experienced licensing professionals, litigators and PMAC neutrals.

The PMAC Inauguration Ceremony on 2 June will be opened by the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Nataša Pirc Musar, with keynote addresses by Prof Dr Koen Lenaerts (President of the CJEU) and Dr Klaus Grabinski (President of the UPC Court of Appeal), as well as addresses by EU Commissioner Michael McGrath and EPO President António Campinos.

Dietrich Blumenröhr’s role

LBP partner Dietrich Blumenröhr is attending the Summit as a PMAC Neutral (Mediator). The PMAC accredits mediators and arbitrators who meet the required professional and training standards, and maintains them on its list of neutrals. In addition, he was involved as a “friendly user” in the testing phase of the new PMAC Case Management System and also contributed to the expert commentary on the PMAC’s mediation and arbitration rules as part of the ECTA Mediation Committee.

What the PMAC means in practice

For clients, the PMAC offers an additional, fast and confidential route to resolving patent disputes – either from ongoing UPC proceedings or independently of them. The 70% settlement rate in WIPO mediations shows that it is worth pursuing. We assist in designing and conducting ADR strategies, whether before the PMAC, the EUIPO or other institutions.

For colleagues – patent attorneys and lawyers – who are looking for an experienced and independent mediator for their clients in PMAC proceedings: Dietrich Blumenröhr is happy to be considered. As a patent attorney, he brings the advantage of deep familiarity with the technical subject matter from daily practice – while typically not having appeared on the opposing side of the litigators involved in the dispute. His training and accreditation as a mediator (CEDR, PMAC) ensures the impartiality and confidentiality that mediation requires.

We look forward to the exchange in Ljubljana and beyond. Do feel free to reach out.

Dietrich Blumenröhr is a Partner at LBP, Dipl.-Ing., German Patent Attorney, European Patent Attorney, European Trademark Attorney, UPC Representative, CEDR Accredited Mediator, PMAC Neutral (Mediator).