VALIDATION OF AN EUROPEAN PATENT

The publication of the grant of the European patent triggers a 3-month term for completing validation formalities (applicable to most of the Designated States) in the countries where the protection rights conferred by the European patent are to take effect and that are Member states of the European Patent Convention. Likewise, when extension fees and/or validation fees have been paid together with the designation fees, the extension/validation formalities for the respective States need also be completed at this time so that protection rights take effect in these States as well.

To help you with these processes, please find below detailed information regarding the validation formalities that have to be completed in each country.

  • Albania

    Translation requirements:
     - The claims must be translated into Albanian.
     - Patents in French or German: The description must be translated into English.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Austria

    Translation requirements: Patents in English or French: The description must be translated into German.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Belgium

    Translation requirements: None.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Bulgaria

    Translation requirements: The entire patent must be translated into Bulgarian.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Croatia

    Translation requirements:
     - The claims must be translated into Croatian.
     - Patents in French or German: The description must be translated into English or Croatian.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Cyprus

    Translation requirements: The entire patent must be translated into Greek.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Czech Republic

    Translation requirements: The entire patent must be translated into Czech.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Denmark

    Translation requirements:
     - The claims must be translated into Danish.
     - Patents in French or German: The description must be translated into English or Danish.

    Power of Attorney: Not required.

  • Estonia

    Translation requirements: The entire patent must be translated into Estonian.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Finland

    Translation requirements:
     - The claims must be translated into Finnish.
     - Patents in French or German: The description must be translated into English or Finnish.

    Power of Attorney: Not required.

  • France

    Translation requirements: None.

    Power of Attorney: Not required.

  • Germany

    Translation requirements: None.

    Power of Attorney: Not required.

  • Greece

    Translation requirements: The entire patent must be translated into Greek.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Hungary

    Translation requirements:
     - The claims must be translated into Hungarian.
     - Patents in French or German: The description must be translated into English or Hungarian.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Iceland

    Translation requirements:
     - The claims must be translated into Icelandic.
     - Patents in French or German: The description must be translated into English or Icelandic.

    Power of Attorney: Not required.

  • Ireland

    Translation requirements: None.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Italy

    Translation requirements: The entire patent must be translated into Italian.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Latvia

    Translation requirements: The claims must be translated into Latvian.

    Power of Attorney: Not required.

  • Liechtenstein (& Switzerland)

    Validation in Liechtenstein is effected by validating in Switzerland.

    See requirements for Switzerland.

  • Lithuania

    Translation requirements: The claims must be translated into Lithuanian.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Luxembourg

    Translation requirements: None.

    Power of Attorney: Not required.

  • Malta

    Translation requirements: Patents in French or German: The description must be translated into English or Maltese.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Monaco

    Translation requirements: None.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Netherlands

    Translation requirements:
     - The claims must be translated into Dutch.
     - Patents in French or German: The description must be translated into English or Dutch.

    Power of Attorney: Not required.

  • North Macedonia

    Translation requirements: The claims and the drawings must be translated into Macedonian.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Norway

    Translation requirements:
     - The claims must be translated into Norwegian.
     - Patents in French or German: The description must be translated into English or Norwegian.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Poland

    Translation requirements: The entire patent must be translated into Polish.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Portugal

    Translation requirements: The entire patent must be translated into Portuguese.

    Power of Attorney: Not required.

  • Romania

    Translation requirements: The entire patent must be translated into Romanian.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • San Marino

    Translation requirements: The entire patent must be translated into Italian.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Serbia

    Translation requirements: The entire patent must be translated into Serbian.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Slovakia

    Translation requirements: The entire patent must be translated into Slovak.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Slovenia

    Translation requirements: The claims must be translated into Slovene.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Spain

    Translation requirements: The entire patent must be translated into Spanish.

    Power of Attorney: Not required.

  • Sweden

    Translation requirements:
     - The claims must be translated into Swedish.
     - Patents in French or German: The description must be translated into English or Swedish.

    Power of Attorney: Not required.

  • Switzerland (& Liechtenstein)

    Validation in Switzerland also effects validation in Liechtenstein.

    Translation requirements: None.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Turkey

    Translation requirements: The entire patent must be translated into Turkish.

    Power of Attorney: Not required.

  • United Kingdom

    Translation requirements: None.

    Power of Attorney: Not required.

Extension States(1)

Extension fees for the concerned State(s) had to be paid no later than 6 months after publication of the European Search Report.

  • Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Translation requirements: The title and the claims must be translated into Croatian or Serbian.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Montenegro

    Translation requirements: The title and the claims must be translated into Serbian.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

Validation States(2)

Extension fees for the concerned State(s) had to be paid no later than 6 months after publication of the European Search Report.

  • Cambodia

    Translation requirements: The claims must be translated into Khmer.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Morocco

    Translation requirements: None.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Rep. of Moldova

    Translation requirements: The entire patent must be translated into Romanian.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

  • Tunisia

    Translation requirements: Patents in German: The description must be translated into English or French or Arabic.

    Power of Attorney: Required.

(1): Extension fees for the concerned State(s) had to be paid no later than 6 months after publication of the European Search Report.
(2): Validation fees for the concerned State(s) had to be paid no later than 6 months after publication of the European Search Report.