London Agreement enters into force
The London Agreement
on the application of Article 65 of the European Patent Convention (EPC) enters into force today, 1
May 2008. Section 77(6) of the Patents Act 1977 
(340Kb) no longer has effect from this date.
The London Agreement is expected to significantly reduce the cost of patenting through the European Patent Office (EPO) by reducing the translation requirements for European patents. This is expected to save British business an estimated £10 million every year.
The Agreement has been ratified in fourteen states (Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) and comes into force in all of these countries on 1 May 2008.
In
the UK this means that for a European patent (UK) published in French or German a translation into English
will not need to be filed in order for the patent (or any amendment to it) to enter into force in the
UK. Patent proprietors can take advantage of the three month period prescribed for filing translations (see
rule 56 of the Patents Rules 2007 (287Kb)). A translation is not required for any European patent (UK) granted or amended from 1 February 2008.
In
other countries which have ratified the Agreement translation requirements 
are removed
or reduced meaning that UK patent proprietors of European patents will have reduced translation costs
in these countries.
A guidance note providing more information is available on this website.
More information on the London
Agreement can be found on the European Patent Office website .
Previous press releases on the London Agreement may be viewed here and here.
