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Patent- European EPC

Summary

Apply for and pay the relevant fees through the European Patent Office (EPO) and thereby to obtain patent protection in 39 member states, 1 extension states and four validation states, instead of applying for patent applications in each European country.

Member states: Germany, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Finland, Austria, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Belgium, Hungary, Iceland, Romania, Greece, Monaco, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Cyprus, Estonia, Slovenia, Liechtenstein, Turkey, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, San Marino, Serbia, Albania and Montenegro.

Extension states: Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Validation states: Morocco, Republic of Moldova, Tunisia and Cambodia.

Advantages

Apply for and pay the relevant fees through the European Patent Office (EPO) and thereby to obtain patent protection in 39 member states, 1 extension states and four validation states. If the European patent is validated in more than five member states after grant, it will be more time-saving and cost-saving than applying for patent applications in each European country.

Application Procedure

  1. Composition：Write and translate a specification.
  2. Review：Confirm the technical content of the specification.
  3. Submit an application to the European Patent Office (EPO): The examination period is around 3-4 years.
  4. EPO issues a search report, which allows the applicant to evaluate the patentability of the invention. Within six months from the publication date, substantive examination shall be requested, and at the same time, the designation fees of member states, extension states and validation states shall be paid.
  5. Decision of grant: The patent claims of the application have to be translated into German and French while paying the issue and printing fee. The annual fees shall be paid yearly from the third year of the filing date. The validity term of patent is 20 years from the filing date.
  6. Within three months from the publication of the decision of grant, it must validate the European patent in the individual member states, extension states and validation states, the European patent thereby can be protected in the designated country.
  7. From June 2023, a request for unitary effect can be made within one month from the publication of the decision of grant.

Required Documents

  1. Name and address of applicant in Chinese and English
  2. Name and address of inventor in Chinese and English
  3. English Specification and drawings
  4. Power of Attorney
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