London Agreement to enter into force on 1st May

United Kingdom

Following the deposit by France of the instrument of ratification with the German Ministry of Justice on 29th January, the European Patent Office (EPO) has announced that the London Agreement will enter into force on 1st May. The London Agreement is an amendment to the European Patent Convention which simplifies the language regime, largely or entirely waiving the need for translations of granted European patents. Countries such as the United Kingdom, France or Germany whose national language is also an official EPO language will dispense with translation requirements altogether. It is hoped that the reduction in costs will encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to pursue patent protection.