Patents granted according to the European Patent Convention are called European patents, which are inventions with industrial practicability, absolute novelty and creativity. The European patent is submitted through the European Patent Office (EPO), and the applicant may request that the European patent be valid for one or more contracting States.
2. Countries where European patents are protected
In every country in force, European patents have the same effect as domestic patents authorized by domestic patent authorities and are protected according to domestic laws. At present, European patents can take effect in 38 contracting States, 2 extended countries and 2 effective countries.
(1) Contracting States (38): Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta and Monaco.
Note *: Switzerland and Liechtenstein can only be designated at the same time.
(2) Expanding countries (2): Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro.
Entry into force (2): Morocco, Moldova * * * and United States.