🇪🇺 Europe (27 EU States)

European Union IP Filing Guide

The European Union offers supranational IP protection across all 27 member states. The EPO grants European Patents (validated nationally) and Unitary Patents (covering 18 EU states). The EUIPO registers EU Trade Marks and Registered Community Designs with a single application covering the entire EU.

Paris Convention PCT Member Madrid Protocol Hague System

Filing Requirements

  • Documents in English, French, German, Italian or Spanish
  • Name, address and nationality of applicant(s) and inventor(s)
  • Proof of rights declaration (if applicant is not inventor)
  • Complete Specification in English (description, claims, abstract, drawings)
  • POA may be filed during formal examination (~1 month after filing)
  • Priority document within 12 months from filing date (non-extendable)
  • PCT National Phase: entry within 30 months

Prosecution Steps

  1. Filing of patent application with EPO
  2. Formality check
  3. EPO issues search report and preliminary opinion
  4. EPO publishes application and search report after 18 months
  5. Substantive examination on request (1–3 years)
  6. EPO grants European Patent
  7. Validation in each designated state within 3 months of grant
  8. Post-grant opposition within 9 months of publication
  9. Annual renewal fees to keep patent in force
20
Year patent term
From filing date; Unitary Patent covers 18 EU states

Unitary Patent (since June 2023) provides uniform protection across participating EU states without national validation fees — significant cost saving.

Filing Requirements

  • Full name, address, status and nationality of applicant(s)
  • Goods/services description and class
  • Clear trademark image (if logo/design)
  • Translation/transliteration if not in English/French/German/Italian/Spanish
  • Duly signed POA
  • Priority: within 6 months; certified copy within 6 months of application
  • Multi-class filing permitted; valid in all 27 EU member states

Registration Process

  1. Filing of application at EUIPO
  2. Formal examination only (no absolute grounds examination if criteria met) — approx. 3 months
  3. Publication in EU Trade Marks Journal
  4. Opposition: 3 months from publication
  5. Certificate of Registration issued
10
Year registration
One filing covers all 27 EU states

Filing Requirements

  • Name, address and nationality of applicant(s) and creator(s)
  • Title, Locarno classification and disclaimer (if any)
  • Views of article — must be clear
  • Up to 50 designs in one application
  • Priority claim within 6 months; certified copy on request by office
  • POA not required at filing

Prosecution Steps

  1. Filing of application
  2. Formal examination
  3. Objection reply within 2 months (if any)
  4. Registration and publication in journal
  5. Deferment of publication available for up to 30 months
25
Year max design term
5 years × 5 renewals; covers all 27 EU states

Key Facts

Patent Authority EPO — European Patent Office
TM / Design Authority EUIPO — EU Intellectual Property Office
PCT Member Yes — national/regional phase within 30 months
Unitary Patent Active since June 2023 — covers 18 EU states
Patent Term 20 years from filing date
TM Term 10 years — one filing covers all 27 EU states
Design Term 25 years (5 years × 5 renewals)
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