How to file for a European patent

Principles

Patents give their owners the exclusive right to authorise or to oppose, for a maximum period of twenty years, any use, reproduction, distribution or sale of the invention which is the subject of the protection.

Conditions

It is possible to file for a European patent application with the Monaco Intellectual Property Unit (the filing may also be made directly with the European Patent Office (EPO) in Munich, The Hague or Berlin) which provides the opportunity to obtain protection in all or parts of the member countries of the European Patent Organisation (thirty-eight to date), without any requirements of nationality or residence in Monaco.

The application may claim priority over an earlier application within a period of twelve months. The Monegasque Office will forward the request to the EPO for examination, research, publication and delivery. In general, the application will be published with search report within a period of eighteen months from the date of filing or in order of priority. Following this publication, it is then possible to submit an application for review.

Application and registration fees

The fees for application and registration, nomination, research, review and, if applicable any claims should be paid to the EPO. Annual fees must also be paid to the EPO every year until the notice of delivery is published. The fees payable for subsequent years will be paid directly to the national offices of the designated countries.

For additional information regarding the filing for a European patent and to request the necessary forms, please go to the EPO (European Patent Office) website.

Full information on registering a patent can be found on the website of the Industrial Property Office: mcipo.gouv.mc