European Patents

There are a number of issues to consider when you wish to patent an invention in Europe.

These include:

• First-to-file principle
• A good priority application is particularly important
• Unpatentable inventions – e.g. programs for computers, methods of treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy, and methods of diagnosis practised on the human or animal body
• Provisional protection
• Supplementary protection certificate (SPC)
• Regulatory provisions and marketing rules

Where a patent covering the European market is relevant, it is a good idea to let a European Patent Attorney scrutinise key priority founding applications before filing outside Europe. This is because a good priority application is particularly important for European patent applications. In Europe, the first-to-file principle is applied stringently. Moreover, the concept of priority in Europe requires that every feature for which you desire to claim priority is disclosed explicitly in the priority application.

We will help you address these and all other issues that may be relevant for you for obtaining patent protection in Europe. Please contact one of our qualified patent attorneys for specific advice or fill out this contact form with your enquiry and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Additional information on patenting in Europe:

• European patent applications
• European patent validation
• Patent applications before filing
• Patent applications after filing
• PCT applications
• SPC applications