New CMS Unified Patent Court starts functioning next month

Since representatives will primarily be solicitors, why should the UPC concern itself too much with EPAs who have the opportunity to obtain a proper qualified signature card through the indicated commercial channels.

Indeed ... although the problem there is that EPO cards are not issued by an EU-recognised provider. The "detailed" information provided by the UPC Prep Committee perhaps provides a ray of hope: "qualified electronic certificates do require a strong identification process. Such process USUALLY imposes the physical presence of the requestor during the identification. However, some providers are certified to use “online” identification means (like video conferencing) but for a limited choice of qualified signature creation device. PROVIDING such vendors are certified and recognized by competent national authorities". The EU Trust Services Dashboard does not provide a specific search option for vendors certified for "remote" issuance of qualified signature creation devices. It would therefore have been nice if the Prep Committee could have pointed us towards some qualified vendors (assuming that there are any). Looks like we will all need to do a lot of research ... and possibly even make trips to the EU just in order to obtain a device loaded with the relevant certificates. Oh joy!

@Concerned - my understanding is that the identification process is the procedure to be followed to obtain the necessary eID card, where the identify of the requester needs to be established through a physical check with supporting documentation such as a passport or national ID card.

Well, that begs the question of whether just the supporting documents need to be seen "in person" by the eID card provider, or whether the requester needs to be seen in person too. Those possessing the necessary qualifications to act before the UPC (at least by filing opt-outs) will come from most, if not all, EPC Contracting States. Many of those Contracting States will not have any providers of suitable eID cards. From what little I have learned so far, it seems likely that countries lacking such providers will also include a number of EU Member States ... and possibly even Member States that are set to participate in the UPC. The few providers of suitable eID cards are therefore likely to be overwhelmed in the short term. Bearing all of this in mind, how is all of this supposed to work out in the limited time available, and without forcing thousands of individual attorneys to make long journeys just to secure the ability to file opt-outs?