European patent applications

From Kancelaria Patentowa Łukaszyk

The European patent has, in each state of the European Patent Convention (EPC) for which it is granted, the effect of a national patent granted by that state.

EPC member states

EPC covers most of the European countries. The zoomable map below shows the EPC contracting states along with their accession dates. Right click to zoom out.

• EPC member state
• EPC extension state (recognising European patents upon request)

Although the cost of a European application is higher compared to the cost of filing national (e.g. Polish) application, it is more economical to file one European application if the patent protection is sought to cover more than three European countries.

After receiving the EPO decision to grant a patent it needs to be validated in each EPC state, in which protection is sought (in case of Poland see Validation of the European patent).

European Application timeline

The picture below illustrates the proceedings at the EPO for an application with convention priority.