European Patents

Rather than filing individual applications in the countries of interest, a single European patent application can designate up to 38 member states (the 27 EU member states plus Albania, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland and Turkey), and can be extended to cover 2 others (Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro).

We are able to carry out all services before the European Patent Office, including the following:

  • Filing a European patent application, including preparing a patent specification if required.

  • Processing applications through examination stage, to grant, including attending Oral Proceedings at the EPO if required.

  • Filing an appeal against a decision of the EPO.

  • Defending your European patent against an Opposition, including attending Oral Proceedings at the EPO if required.

  • Advising on infringement of your European Patent, and its validity.

  • Post-grant amendment of European patents at the EPO, and at the UK IP Office.

  • Enforcing European Patents in the UK, and overseeing enforcement overseas.

  • Attending to European Patent Renewals after grant.

  • Advising on infringement of a third party European Patent, and its validity.

  • Filing an Opposition to a third party European Patent, including attending Oral Proceedings at the EPO if required.

Euro-PCT applications

We are also able to file, and process, European Patent Applications that originate from an International Patent Application (i.e. a PCT Application). Such European Patent Applications (often referred to as EP-PCT or Euro-PCT Applications) should be filed at the European Patent Office within 31 months of the earliest priority date claimed in the International Patent Application.

Please contact us to obtain further information and a free quotation.