EP Validation Network

Get access to 40 countries with only one instruction:
We can offer validation services for European Patents through an outstanding network of corresponding agents in all EPO member and extension states.

Validation is the process of registering a granted European Patent (EP) in the individual spezific countries where it will become enforceable.
Since the EP has been granted by the European Patent Office the patent will not go through further substantive examinations by the national patent offices.
The validation process typically involves the filing of specific translations of all or part of the patent, the payment of the national official fees and the filing of validation related forms.
The timeframe within the national phase validation must be carried out is usually 3 months from the grant date of the EP.
Some jurisdication allow an extension of the deadline, which may presuppose specific conditions.

Advantages of our streamlined EP Validation Process

Commonly EP Validations are handled by instructed local agents to attend to the national filing requirements.
Dealing with each individual agent is time consuming and usually involves many follow-ups, which may result in chains of error-prone coordination work. Delays, inaccurately estimated fees and possible loss of oversight make the common process very inefficient and cost intensive.

We have developed a streamlined validation process which gives you the following core advantages:

• Only one instruction and a single point of contact
• Local expertise from an outstanding network of selected highly reliable agents and law firms
• Increase efficiency and optimize costs — We take over all coordination work
• Clear and easy fee structure, no hidden charges
• Up front guaranteed pricing — avoid fluctuations caused by exchange rate variations
• Only one currency: All fees will be charged in Euro, so you don't have to deal with different currencies.
• Invisibility — We can operate in the background so that your clients will not know about us

How it works

We turn EP Validations into a fast forward and easy process:

1. Simply provide us with the EP number and the countries you wish to validate, and you will receive the guaranteed pricing for the coordination- and filing work.
2. Place your order and receive the POA documents (if required), which need to be signed and returned. Also you are notified of the translation requirements.
3. We start the national validations by instructing our corresponding local agents and carry out all coordination works.

Required translations have to be provided within specific time limits.

Overview of national EP Validation Requirements

The translation and POA requirements vary significantly between the different countries:

1. Translation requirements for countries which are part of the London Agreement
2. Translation requirements for countries which are not part of the London Agreement
3. Power of Attorney requirements

1. Countries part of the London Agreement   .   EP Translation Requirements

The London Agreement (Agreement on the application of Article 65 EPC) is aiming at reducing the costs relating to the translation of European Patents.
There are two groups of countries which form part of the London Agreement:

• Group A — Countries sharing an official EPO languages English, German or French;
• Group B — Countries having another official language than English, German or French;

Group A — No Translation required

Regardless of the grant language of the EP a translation is not required for countries which are part of the London Agreement and also share an official EPO language (English, German or French) — These countries are Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Monaco, Switzerland/Liechtenstein and the United Kingdom.

For the purpose of receiving and forwarding communications and notifications issued by the National Patent Offices, we can arrange the registration of an "Address for Service" for these countries through our network of corresponding agents.

Group B — Translation requirements for specification and claims

The following requirements for the translation of the patent specification and the claims apply to the group of countries which are part of the London Agreement, but do not share an official EPO language (English, German or French):

• Specification: States falling into this group have to select one of the three official EPO languages which is accepted for the translation of the patent specification. Currently all of these states have selected English, which means that a translation of the patent specification is only required in case the EP has been granted in German or French. There are no further requirements if the EP was granted in English.
• Claims: Regardless of the grant language of the EP the claims are required to be translated into one of the official languages or into the prescribed official language of the specific country;

2. Countries not part of the London Agreement   .   EP Translation Requirements

Most countries which are not part of the London Agreement require a full translation of the EP into one of the official languages or into the precribed language.
Countries which do not require a full translation but the translation of the claims are the two extension states Bosnia & Herzegovina and Montenegro.

3. Power of Attorney   .   Overview on POA Requirements for EP Validations

The POA requirements for EP Validations vary significantly between the different countries.
If required, the Power of Attorney (POA) might be required because it needs to be filed with the National Patent Office or it is required by the local appointed agent.

POA requirements for the registration of an "Address for Service"

For the purpose of registering an "Address for Service" a POA is only required for Ireland, Monaco and Switzerland/Liechtenstein. In these cases a simple signature is sufficient. A notarisation is not required.
A POA is not required in Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Monaco, Switzerland/Liechtenstein and United Kingdom.

FAQs