Organization overview

Full name: European Patent Office (EPO)
Established: 1977
Legal basis: European Patent Convention (EPC 1973)
Headquarters: Munich, Germany (Munich, Germany)
Member states: 39 European countries (including EU member states and several non-EU member states, such as Switzerland, Norway, the United Kingdom and Türkiye).

The EPO is the executive arm of the European Patent Organisation, responsible for the centralised examination and grant of European patents and for supporting patent cooperation and harmonisation among its member states.

Main functions

1. Receiving and examining patent applications

   • Examination is based on the European Patent Convention (EPC) and its implementing regulations;

   • Carries out search, examination, grant and opposition proceedings;

   • The working languages are English, German and French.

2. Granting European patents

   • A single application may designate multiple member states;

   • After grant, validation (confirmation of effect) is required in the designated states.

3. Opposition and appeal system

   • Oppositions may be filed within 9 months from the mention of grant;

   • Appeals are decided by the EPO Boards of Appeal.

4. Unitary Patent system

   • Since 2023, applicants can choose the Unitary Patent (UP) option so that, after grant, the patent automatically has unitary effect in the participating states;

   • Disputes relating to Unitary Patents fall under the jurisdiction of the Unified Patent Court (UPC).

Patent application and examination procedure

Filing routes

• File a European patent application directly with the EPO; or

• Enter the European regional phase via a PCT international application.

Overview of procedure

1. Filing of the application (designating the desired member states);

2. Search report (Search Report) and written opinion;

3. Substantive examination;

4. Grant and publication (Grant);

5. Opposition period (9 months);

6. Validation in the designated member states or registration of unitary effect.

Term of protection

• 20 years from the filing date;

• May be extended by a supplementary protection certificate (SPC) (for medicinal and plant protection products).

Examination timeline

• On average 24–30 months.