Allen Alex gives a short overview of the European Patent Office
What is the EPO?
Established in 1973, the European Patent Office (EPO) stands as the largest regional patent office in the world. It follows a uniform procedure for examining patent applications, offering services in its three official languages (English, French and German).
Today, the EPO brings together 39 member states, giving inventors, companies, and researchers the ability to protect their inventions in up to 46 countries. This collective coverage represents a market of approximately 700 million people, making the EPO a cornerstone of innovation across Europe and beyond.
The European Patent Convention
The EPO operates within the framework of the European Patent Convention (EPC), which was signed in 1973 and came into force in 1977. In practice, the EPO collaborates closely with national patent offices to handle essential tasks such as translation, validation, and enforcement within individual member states.
European Qualifying Examination
Another key aspect of the EPO’s role is the administration of the European Qualifying Examination (EQE). Overseen directly by the EPO, the EQE serves as a critical step for those seeking to become European patent attorneys. Passing this examination is a mandatory requirement to qualify as a European patent attorney, authorising candidates to practice before the EPO and represent clients in European patent matters.