What is an EPO application?

What is an EPO application?

A European patent is, in essence, a single patent application that simultaneously covers many European states during the examination process. The European Patent Office (“EPO”) administers and grants European patents in accordance with the European Patent Convention (“EPC”).

How do I file an EPO patent?

Requests for the grant of a European patent must be filed on the form prescribed by the European Patent Office (EPO Form 1001). This should be accompanied (where applicable – i.e. where the applicant is not the inventor or is not the sole inventor) by a “Designation of the inventor” form (EPO Form 1002).

How much does it cost to get a European patent?

Obtaining a European patent will generate costs of at least 10,000 € until EP patent grant and at least further 1,000 € per designated country. For patent renewal, annual fees have to be paid to national offices which sum up to 5,000-15,000 € each, as stated in the preceding paragraph.

How long does European patent last?

20 years
The maximum term of a European patent is 20 years from its filing date. The patent may lapse earlier if the annual renewal fees are not paid or if the patent is revoked by the patentee or after opposition proceedings.

What are the three main criteria for patentability?

Patent applications: the three criteria

  • Novelty. This means that your invention must not have been made public – not even by yourself – before the date of the application.
  • Inventive step. This means that your product or process must be an inventive solution.
  • Industrial applicability.

What is the full form of EPO?

EPO Full Form

Full Form Category Term
Exclusive Provider Organization Healthcare EPO
Emergency Power Off Electronics EPO
Express Payment Option Accounts and Finance EPO
Electronic Payment Order Accounts and Finance EPO

Does the EPO grant patents?

1 Before applying for a European patent An invention can be, for example, a product, a process or an apparatus. Patents are valid in individual countries for specified periods. They are generally granted by a national patent office, or a regional one like the EPO.

How much does it cost to file for a patent?

A patent attorney will usually charge between $8,000 and $10,000 for a patent application, but the cost can be higher. In most cases, you should budget between $15,000 and $20,000 to complete the patenting process for your invention.

Who can file a patent EPO?

2. A European patent application may be filed by any natural or legal person, or any body equivalent to a legal person by virtue of the law governing it. For the purposes of proceedings before the EPO, the applicant shall be deemed to be entitled to exercise the right to the European patent.

Does a patent mean it works?

For an invention to be patentable, it does not need to be the most efficient, effective, or perfected form of a particular use (whether it is a medication, a piece of software code, or a machine). It merely needs to work as described.

What is the grant date of a European patent?

The grant date of a patent is the date on which the official body (Netherlands Patent Office / European Patent Office) grants the patent.

Can you have a patent and a trade secret?

Patent and trade secret protection cannot be used simultaneously to cover the exact same aspects of the exact same invention. Because patents are published, the public disclosure necessarily destroys the requite secrecy for trade secret protection.

How much does it cost to file observations with the EPO?

It is available free of charge from the EPO website. Filing observations does not make you a party to any official proceedings the EPO undertakes, and you will not be informed by the EPO about the further outcome of the patent grant proceedings.

How to file a European patent if you are not the inventor?

If you yourself are not the inventor or are not the sole inventor, you must file the designation of the inventor in a separate document, which must indicate the origin of your right to the European patent. You can designate the inventor (s) in the tools provided by the EPO for online filing.

When does the 12-month period for filing a European patent expire?

If your European patent application or international application must be filed within the priority year, and the day on which the 12-month period expires is a Saturday, a Sunday or a public holiday at one of the EPO filing offices, the period is extended to the next day on which all the EPO filing offices are open.

How to make available deposited biological material under EPC?

Request for deposited biological material to be made available by issuing a sample to an expert v. 10.17 Declaration by the nominated expert under Rule 32 EPC v. 10.17

author

Back to Top