European patent

European patent is a patent granted by the European Patent Office under the European Patent Convention. It allows applicants to seek protection for an invention in multiple European countries through a single centralized application procedure.

Once granted, a European patent does not automatically become a single unitary right; instead, it takes effect as a bundle of national patents in the designated countries. To maintain protection, the patent must be validated and maintained in each selected country in accordance with national laws.

The application process includes filing, search, publication, and substantive examination. The EPO evaluates whether the invention meets key patentability criteria such as novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability.

European patents are widely used by companies and inventors seeking broad geographic protection in Europe, offering an efficient and cost-effective route compared to filing separate national applications.

Resource: https://www.epo.org/en/legal/epc/2020/a2.html