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

== Rule 56 ==

=== Lodging of the Defence to the Counterclaim for infringement ===

 1. Within one month of service of a Counterclaim for infringement, the claimant shall lodge a Defence to the Counterclaim for infringement. The period may be extended by the judgerapporteur on a reasoned request by the claimant. 

 2. The Defence to the Counterclaim shall contain the matters referred to in Rule [[UPCA_RoP_024|24.2]](e) to (h) and (j) and a statement whether the claimant disputes the defendant’s assessment of the value of the dispute (including the Counterclaim) pursuant to Rule [[UPCA_RoP_050|50.3]] and the reasons for such dispute. Rule [[UPCA_RoP_024|24.2]] shall apply. 

 3. The defendant may lodge a Reply to the Defence to the Counterclaim for infringement within one month. 

 4. The claimant may lodge a Rejoinder to the Reply within one month of the service of the Reply. The Rejoinder shall be limited to matters raised in the Reply. 

== Notes ==

Rules [[UPCA_RoP_033|33]] and [[UPCA_RoP_034|34]] on Request for allocating a technically qualified judge shall apply where the revocation action is heard by local division or regional division 

Rule [[UPCA_RoP_035|35]] on Closure of the written procedure shall apply ''mutatis mutandis''

Rule [[UPCA_RoP_036|36]] on Further exchanges of written pleadings shall apply


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