Entry into the National Phase in Europe, China, and Elsewhere

AuthorJay Erstling - Samson Helfgott - T. David Reed
Pages171-198
171
CHAPTER 8
Entry into the National
Phase in Europe,
China, and Elsewhere
1. Entering the European Regional Phase
The European Patent Convention (EPC) is a multilateral treaty that
provides a unified means for the grant of a European Patent (EP patent)
by the European Patent Office (EPO). The deadline for initiation of the
regional phase before the EPO is 31 months, one month more than the
standard deadline provided for in the PCT. Although the actual process
of entering the regional phase is relatively simply, it usually requires the
use of a European associate admitted to practice before the EPO. After
an EP patent issues, the patent must be validated in each of the countries
within the EPC where the applicant seeks protection.
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172 The Practitioner’s Guide to the PCT
The EPC entered into force on October 7, 1977, with just seven
members. Today the EPO consists of 38 member countries and two
extension countries (countries that recognize European patents but that
are not members of the EPO).
Country Date Country Date
Belgium 07-Oct-77 Turkey 01-Nov-00
France 07-Oct-77 Bulgaria 01-Jul-02
Germany 07-Oct-77 Czech Republic 01-Jul-02
Luxembourg 07-Oct-77 Estonia 01-Jul-02
Netherlands 07-Oct-77 Slovakia 01-Jul-02
Switzerland 07-Oct-77 Slovenia 01-Dec-02
United Kingdom 07-Oct-77 Hungary 01-Jan-03
Sweden 01-May-78 Romania 01-Mar-03
Italy 01-Dec-78 Poland 01-Mar-04
Austria 01-May-79 Iceland 01-Nov-04
Liechtenstein 01-Apr-80 Lithuania 01-Dec-04
Greece 01-Oct-86 Latvia 01-Jul-05
Spain 01-Oct-86 Malta 01-Mar-07
Denmark 01-Jan-90 Croatia 01-Jan-08
Monaco 01-Dec-91 Norway 01-Jan-08
Portugal 01-Jan-92 Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia
01-Jan-09
Ireland 01-Aug-92 San Marino 01-Jul-09
Finland 01-Mar-96 Albania 01-May-10
Cyprus 01-Apr-98 Serbia 01-Oct-10
Figure 8.1
Current List of EPC Contracting States
Extension States: Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Montenegro
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