Language rules of the European Patent with Unitary Effect

Question

Hello everybody,

In the coming European Unitary Patent system, what will be the language rules for patent applications? Will there be significant costs for translations?

Thank you.

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Answers: 2 public & 0 private

26dd557
Translator

Hello,
In the coming EUP - in its promoters' intentions - each and every patent application will be linguistically valid if submitted in any of the three EPO official languages (German, French, English).
Yet, Italy and Spain have not ratified the related agreement, therefore a version in Spanish and Italian will still be needed to validate in these two countries.
In comparison to the past European Patent system (until London Agreement 2008), the costs for translations will be significantly reduced.
In comparison to the current system (after London Agreement) translation costs will not be significantly reduced, since also in this case you'll only have to pay for translations in Spain and Italy.
Given that major decisions still have to be taken regarding courts and fees, the EUP model actually could be not really convenient.
Anyway, what impacts the most in validating in Europe is the cost of middlemen involved in the process, and not of translations.
I'm available to explain in further details.

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