European Patents
The following countries are Contracting States to the EPC:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
It is important to note that an “EP” designation in an International patent application filed under the PCT on or after 1 July 2005 can ultimately be validated, after grant, by way of payment of additional fees and filing of translations, to cover each of the above countries. You only have to incur costs for filing the European Patent Application at the outset, at the time when entry into the National Phase or Regional Phase is required under the PCT. Thus, the additional and substantial costs of filing in other countries is delayed until the European Patent is granted.
The following countries are known as “Extension States” of the EPC, meaning that coverage can also be extended to these countries by payment of additional fees.
- Albania
- Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Serbia and Montenegro
- Croatia
