EPO celebrates the 50th anniversary of the European Patent Convention while introducing the “Unitary Patent” system 2023-09-25
The European Patent Convention (EPC) was signed in Munich on October 5, 1973.
The EPC established the European Patent Organization (EPO), which is responsible for granting European patents that are valid in multiple European countries.
The establishment of this institution enabled the creation of a unified patent system for all participating states. Its significance is proven by the increasing number of contracting states: from just 16 initially to the current 39.
Over the past 50 years, the EPC and the EPO have played a crucial role in promoting innovation and economic development in Europe by providing a simplified and efficient system for patent protection.
For the 50th anniversary the EPO have organized some events, which can be found here:
https://www.epo.org/news-events/news/2023/20230116a.html.
Another crucial step marked in 2023 is the introduction on June 1st of the “Unitary Patent”, a European patent with unitary effect across the territories of the EU member states participating in the system.
The Unitary Patent system is a pivotal step forward in consolidating a barrier-free European market supporting technology transfer, investments and confidence in Europe.
"This is an exciting moment for Europe as we strongly press ahead with the creation of a unified market for innovation and technology," says EPO President António Campinos, "The Unitary Patent system will not only simplify and strengthen the legal protection of inventions and their enforcement, but it will also foster the attractiveness of the European market for inventors and investors alike".
Source:https://european-seed.com/2023/05/the-unitary-patent-system-a-new-pillar-for-innovation-in-europe/