Patents in Europe

Patent mechanisms in Europe are quite complex and need to be explained in order to be properly apprehended.

This is my (humble) goal!

I wish you an excellent reading of the file "Patents in Europe” .

I immediately point out some resources that will be of great help to you as you read:

• the European Patent Convention (or EPC).
  • This convention was strongly updated in 2007 to comply, particularly with another treaty, the PLT (and an important renumbering of the articles was carried out);
  • In addition, small updates are regularly made: the last date of 2013;
• the Regulations of the EPC.
  • This document is a sort of implementing decree (if we were to draw a parallel with French law);
• the Regulations relating to taxes (or RRT) (OJ 3/2012, RRT supplement);
• the "EPO Schedule of Fees and Charges (applicable from 1 April 2012)” , (OJ 3/2012, supplement BTR);
• the Transitional Provisions related to the introduction of the EPC 2000;
• the Guidelines for the Examination practiced at the European Patent Office;
• the Rules of Procedure of the Boards of Appeal (OJ 1/2013, RPCR supplement);
• the Rules of Procedure of the Enlarged Board of Appeal (OG 1/2013, RPGCR supplement);
• the "Regulation on current accounts"(Or RCC) and"Regulations on the automatic debiting procedure"(Or RPA) (OJ 3/2015, additional publication);
• the latest WIPO-EPO Agreement concerning the EPO as ISA, SISA, IPEA (OG 2010, 304);
• the national laws relating to the EPC.

Good reading !