European Patent Office
| Abbreviation | EPO |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Institut International des Brevets |
| Formation | 1977 |
| Headquarters | Munich, Germany[1] |
Official languages |
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President | António Campinos |
Parent organisation | European Patent Organisation |
| Budget | €2.357 billion (2020)[3] |
| Staff | 6,403 (Dec. 2020)[2] |
| Website | www |
| European patent law |
|---|
|
European Patent Organisation |
|
| European Union |
|
|
Eurasian Patent Organization |
|
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Centralization and harmonization |
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| Historical proposals |
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The European Patent Office (EPO)[notes 1] is one of the two organs of the European Patent Organisation (EPOrg), the other being the Administrative Council.[4] The EPO acts as executive body for the organisation[5][6] while the Administrative Council acts as its supervisory body[5] as well as, to a limited extent, its legislative body.[6][7] The actual legislative power to revise the European Patent Convention lies with the Contracting States themselves when meeting at a Conference of the Contracting States.[8]
Within the European Patent Office, examiners are notably in charge of studying European patent applications, filed by applicants, to decide whether to grant a patent for an invention. The patents granted by the European Patent Office are called European patents.
- ^ Article 6(1) EPC
- ^ "Social Report 2020" (PDF). EPO. 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ "Comprehensive Summary 2020 Budget" (PDF). EPO. 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ Article 4(2) EPC
- ^ a b Article 4(3) EPC
- ^ a b Gower's Report on Intellectual Property Archived 19 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine, para 1.34
- ^ Article 33 EPC
- ^ Article 172 EPC
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