Does the European patent gice any kind of protection globally? Is there a patent to be done for every continent? What is the approximate cost of a patent in europe?
Our advice for beginners answers many of your questions, including on costs: www.epo.org/en/new-to-patents/what-to-expect The approximate costs for a European patent are around € 6 500 spread over several years. To enjoy exclusive rights for your invention in other countries, you will need patents there too. There is an international application route which helps to delay the big costs for 30 months, so you have time to test markets or prepare licensing deals before committing to particular countries. By applying to the EPO you can defer some costs right up until grant (e.g. 3-4 years after applying) and then choose to validate your patent in up to 44 countries. More costs can be saved if you take up unitary effect at grant - this gives you protection in 17 EU countries with a single right which is simpler to maintain, license and enforce than many separate national rights. www.epo.org/unitary
I have an active Bulgarian utility model + 4 active EUIPO and WIPO industrial designs, and based on them, an almost active PCT international patent was filed in Geneva through the office in the Bulgarian patent office. Do I need to re-submit activation to the European Patent Office? The evaluation of my world patent has been maximum (3 x YES) since the first report, and it was made and signed by employees of the European Patent Office. It is very misleading. 🤔🤔
If you designated the EPO for regional protection on your international patent application (PCT) submitted to WIPO in Geneva, then it should enter the European phase (i.e. enter the EPO for examination) 31 months after its earliest filing date. If your international search was performed by the EPO, then later processing at the EPO should be fairly straightforward. For more information on entry into the European phase see: www.epo.org/applying/international/entry-european-phase.html
Unitary Patents are European patents (EP) with unitary effect. In the EPO’s patent data products we indicate EP applications with the suffix A1, A2, A3 etc., and granted EPs with the suffix B, B1 etc. For granted EPs taking up unitary effect, these will bear the suffix C0. For more information see: new.epo.org/en/searching-for-patents/helpful-resources/unitary-patent-information
From first filing through to grant or refusal it can take around four years. Your application would be published at 18 months so that the public can comment before it is examined and then granted or refused. Some of the delay is built into the procedure to give the you time to decide in which markets you want protection and to explore licensing deals or raise investment. These delays can be waived or reduced if you want your application examined faster. The complexity of the invention and the number of objections raised by the examiner can slow things down. The basics of the procedure are explained here: new.epo.org/en/new-to-patents/what-to-expect
Does the European patent gice any kind of protection globally? Is there a patent to be done for every continent? What is the approximate cost of a patent in europe?
Our advice for beginners answers many of your questions, including on costs: www.epo.org/en/new-to-patents/what-to-expect
The approximate costs for a European patent are around € 6 500 spread over several years. To enjoy exclusive rights for your invention in other countries, you will need patents there too. There is an international application route which helps to delay the big costs for 30 months, so you have time to test markets or prepare licensing deals before committing to particular countries. By applying to the EPO you can defer some costs right up until grant (e.g. 3-4 years after applying) and then choose to validate your patent in up to 44 countries. More costs can be saved if you take up unitary effect at grant - this gives you protection in 17 EU countries with a single right which is simpler to maintain, license and enforce than many separate national rights. www.epo.org/unitary
I have an active Bulgarian utility model + 4 active EUIPO and WIPO industrial designs, and based on them, an almost active PCT international patent was filed in Geneva through the office in the Bulgarian patent office. Do I need to re-submit activation to the European Patent Office?
The evaluation of my world patent has been maximum (3 x YES) since the first report, and it was made and signed by employees of the European Patent Office. It is very misleading. 🤔🤔
If you designated the EPO for regional protection on your international patent application (PCT) submitted to WIPO in Geneva, then it should enter the European phase (i.e. enter the EPO for examination) 31 months after its earliest filing date. If your international search was performed by the EPO, then later processing at the EPO should be fairly straightforward. For more information on entry into the European phase see:
www.epo.org/applying/international/entry-european-phase.html
@@TheEPO Thanks !
Will the country code be UP for the unitary patent?
Unitary Patents are European patents (EP) with unitary effect. In the EPO’s patent data products we indicate EP applications with the suffix A1, A2, A3 etc., and granted EPs with the suffix B, B1 etc. For granted EPs taking up unitary effect, these will bear the suffix C0. For more information see: new.epo.org/en/searching-for-patents/helpful-resources/unitary-patent-information
How long does it take for a patent to be granted?
it varies country to country, in general 1 year to 3-4 years
From first filing through to grant or refusal it can take around four years. Your application would be published at 18 months so that the public can comment before it is examined and then granted or refused. Some of the delay is built into the procedure to give the you time to decide in which markets you want protection and to explore licensing deals or raise investment. These delays can be waived or reduced if you want your application examined faster. The complexity of the invention and the number of objections raised by the examiner can slow things down. The basics of the procedure are explained here: new.epo.org/en/new-to-patents/what-to-expect