= Rules of Procedure of the Unified Patent Court (RoP) =

== Rule 12 ==

=== Exchange of written pleadings (infringement action) ===

 
 1. The written procedure shall consist of <<BR>>
 (a) the lodging of a Statement of claim (by the claimant) [Rule [[UPCA_RoP_013|13]]] <<BR>>
 (b) the lodging of a Statement of defence (by the defendant) [Rules [[UPCA_RoP_023|23]] and [[UPCA_RoP_024|24]]] and, optionally <<BR>>
 (c) the lodging of a Reply to the Statement of defence (by the claimant) [Rule [[UPCA_RoP_029|29]]] and <<BR>>
 (d) the lodging of a Rejoinder to the Reply (by the defendant) [Rule [[UPCA_RoP_029|29]]].
 
 2. The Statement of defence may include a Counterclaim for revocation [Rule [[UPCA_RoP_025|25.1]]]. 

 3. If a Counterclaim for revocation is lodged: <<BR>>
 (a) the claimant and any proprietor who becomes a party pursuant to Rule [[UPCA_RoP_025|25.3]] (hereinafter in this Rule [[UPCA_RoP_012|12]] and Rules [[UPCA_RoP_029|29]] to [[UPCA_RoP_032|32]], “the proprietor”) shall lodge a Defence to the Counterclaim for revocation [Rule [[UPCA_RoP_029|29]]], which may include an Application to amend the patent by the proprietor [Rule [[UPCA_RoP_030|30]]]; <<BR>>
 (b) the defendant may lodge a Reply to the Defence to the Counterclaim [Rule [[UPCA_RoP_051|51]]] and <<BR>>
 (c) the claimant and the proprietor may lodge a Rejoinder to the Reply to the Defence to the Counterclaim [Rule [[UPCA_RoP_052|52]]]. 

 4. If an Application to amend the patent is lodged by the proprietor, the defendant shall lodge a Defence to the Application to amend the patent in the Reply to the Defence to the Counterclaim, the proprietor may lodge a Reply to the Defence to the Application to amend and the defendant may lodge a Rejoinder to such Reply [Rule [[UPCA_RoP_032|32]]]. 

 5. The judge-rapporteur may allow the exchange of further written pleadings, within time periods to be specified [Rule [[UPCA_RoP_036|36]]].

== Notes ==

'''Status:''' [[UPCA_RoP_15th_Draft|15th draft of 31st May 2013]]