Jurisdictions/European Patent Convention EPC

European Patent Convention EPC and European Patent Organization EPO

What is the EPO?

The EPO, short for ‘European Patent Organization’ or ‘European Patent Office’, is the authority governing the European Patent Convention, EPC. Being one of the world’s largest patent offices, the EPO is not bound by a country nor by a political union. In fact, the EPO is a supra-national institution hovering above the European continent. Whilst 27 countries are currently in the European Union, 39 countries are in the European Patent Convention.

What is the role of the EPO?

The EPO’s task is to accept so-called European Patent Applications and grant them as “European Patents”. Once granted, a European Patent is just like a national patent in all member states in which the European Patent is validated. In a nutshell, the EPO allows to circumvent many individual national patent granting procedures. One decision to grant from the EPO wins a proprietor patent protection in all member states the patent is then validated. Such a centralized proceeding saves time, money and reduces uncertainty for both patent proprietors and the public.

Member states of the EPO (2023)