The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7240 p356
15 March 2003

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Europe-wide patent moves closer

A centralised patent system for the European Union has moved a step closer following agreement in the Council of Ministers on a common approach.

Ministers have now agreed that European patents will be enforceable through the European Court of Justice, and not through separate national courts. In addition, patents will be filed only in English, French or German, with only the detailed claims that define the monopoly being in all EU languages. The new system will cut significantly the cost of obtaining patent protection throughout the EU. Currently, patent protection in just eight EU countries costs €50,000, which is around five times the cost of a single country patent for the United States or Japan. The new system will cut the cost to €25,000 for the enlarged union of 25 member states.

Proposals for a European patent were first tabled 30 years ago.