Filing a Patent Application in Europe or Germany or a Utility Model in Germany

We can support and represent you by filings of patent applications in Europe and Germany and by entry of regional and national phases in Europe and Germany of an international patent application.

Detailed information about entry into regional stage in Europe and national stage in Germany or filings in Europe and Germany can be provided upon request. Generally, we charge only a flat fee until receipt of the search report or first office action. The following links provide information about the most important requirements.

• European Patent Application
• Regional Phase in Europe of an international patent application (PCT)
• German Patent Application
• National Phase of an international patent application in Germany as Patent Application (PCT)
• German Utility Model
• National Phase of an international patent application in Germany as Utility Model (PCT)

Foreign filing of European Patent Application

A European patent application has to be filed in English, French or German, apart from exceptions. It is possible to file a European patent application by simply referring to another application (first filing), wherein within two months the documents of the first filing have to be provided and a translation into English, French or German has to be filed if the first filing has another language.

Upon filing a European patent application the compulsory filing fee and search fee have to be paid. The examination fee can be paid up to six months after publication.

There is a high (prohibitive) claim fee for the 16th and each following claim. Therfore, it is recommended to reduce the number of caims before fiig the European patnet allication. Since 1 April 2010 the EPO only searches - apart from exceptions - one independent claim per category (product, process). We will advise you about fulfilling the requirements of the EPO.

Re-establishment of priority is possible.